While great fun, the holidays can be a stressful time of year. This post is a reminder that we can slow down, take time for ourselves and that we may need to do so more than ever right now. In fact, it is what these contemplative winter celebrations were originally intended for prior to their extreme commercialization.
Still, the modern questions remain. How to cope with stress during the holidays? How do we invite healing into our lives during this time of year?
I often say that when it comes to healing, “there is no formula.” However, I have cultivated specific habits that serve my healing well. Now I listen to my body which means establishing boundaries with myself.
Along the way to physical deterioration, I didn’t listen –a product of my own incongruence and wishful thinking. I wished I was in better overall health and condition than I really was. Now I stop and remember –just because I can do it, doesn’t mean it’s good for me. That’s a good boundary for me. My new discipline is to be a bit under-active. Stop whatever it is I am doing before I am fatigued –a useful rule of thumb for the holidays.
Here are 7 types of stress which we can be mindful of during the holidays and year round!
- Poor Eating Habits
Processed foods, high sugar consumption, foods with hormones and antibiotics - Food Allergies
Eating food that makes your body go into a defensive mode - Emotional Stress
Toxic relationships, interactions, and thought processing - Sleep Deprivation
That’s key for me, I need 9 hours per night minimum, and have since childhood - Lack of Exercise
I remember years of sitting in my office, not giving my body ample time to move - Over Exercise
I recall years of running 5 miles a day, not the best type of movement for my constitution - Toxic Exposures
Pesticides, mercury, heavy metals, parabens, BPA, and more
Stress adds up and chips away at our well being, until we find ourselves in ill health. Years of stress can get us to a point of (what seems like) no return.
I remember after my diagnosis, I was inconsolable (though that’s another story). It took tons of patience and dedication (the dedication to slow down and become competitive about things like sleeping, rather than my more preferred modes of accomplishment). I had to fool my monkey mind. Patience helps me feel better, even feel good, and helps me to make the choices that serve me best.
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To understand the diversity of choices in front of me, I had to slow down and simply listen. This is a gift that we can all give ourselves during the holiday season. So don’t wait until January to think about yourself and how you want to shift your life. You can give yourself the gift of self-care right now.
Brenda says
You may want to try meditation to reduce your stress. I am sure if you google
sahaja meditation in Colorado, you will find a listing. I know Denver has a class
and probably Boulder also.
Cathi Gross, Ventura, CA says
Thanks for sharing what you have learned. I’m 54 years old and still learning tthese lessions. Your right, I have to stop being a monkey and be competitive in the areas that keep me healthy. I’m probably best at watching what I eat. But I’m horrible in the over exercise department or preparing for a big party like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was just telling my doctor that I push myself to hard, and then my body crashes. Opps. . Got to pace myself and learn to relax through the process. Thank you again for the reminder. You are a very wise lady.
Lynnette Foster-Horwith says
I adore moments of mindfulness, being present and joys coming from that. Creating my settings, pace and companions allow me peace I never knew before I was missing. I dont always succeed and so now the holidays are times of mindfulness, to be present and soft.
Its with gratitude that I feel embraced by this community and its compassion and shared journeying to healthy body and mind, healthy eating, listening, sharing and play. This community is full of wisdom.
Thích Nh?t H?nh speaks to self care like the way we care for a baby who we adore, and reminds me to love myself, including loving tenderly the body I’m blessed to grace God with in this life. My choices of self care are new to me too.
Elana your many gifts and those of this community you create are gifts to me.
Thank you,
Lynnette
Dayle says
Elana,
Even though I have never met you, I adore you and respect you. You are a wise soul that resonates well with me. I know my soul, and others around me, long for the simplicity of reflective gratitude instead of the commercialized greed presented to us during the holidays. My family and I have found many ways to simplify this time of year and we have been able to find rest for our souls. We love telling relatives and friends, “Thank you for asking what we want for Christmas, however, our lives are full of goodness and all we desire is to spend time with you.” There is so much joy to be found in nurturing healthy relationships. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and encouraging us to keep this time sacred and avoid the stress and pressures of the season.
Blessings to you and your loved ones.
~Dayle
Deborah Penner says
Thanks, Elana. Powerful reminders. I appreciate greatly how you shifted from being competitive in your exercise to being competitive about things that matter and will keep you well. I have had to learn similar things.
Ashley says
Thank you for the tips, Elana. Ever since I moved from the year-round warmth of my home in Hawaii to Japan, where it gets awfully cold in the winter (into an apartment designed with no insulation to speak of), I’ve been having an unhealthy amount of physical and emotional problems around winter due to stress. The holidays are so busy and so cold! This winter, I’ll try to make a little more time for myself, sit down and think things through instead of rushing or half-assing them. Thanks for the holiday advice. Stay healthy, everyone!
Karen says
Hi Elana,
How did you know I need this right now….thank you, thank you, thank you…
The past two weeks I paid no attention to what I was eating and my body really felt it. Today I made a commitment to myself to listen to my body and really stick to a gluten free diet, stay away from processed foods and even give dairy a break. I am so tired of feeling sick and tired. I just refuse!
Thank you for sharing your recipes and for helping us through.
All the best,
Karen
Jessica says
emotional stress since I still live at home. :P I love running too but it makes me skinny as as all heck, and I’m already petite. So HIIT, yoga, hiking and weight lifting is better.
Jessica Lynne says
Jessica, that’s just what I’ve had to learn, too. Family is a big stressor for me, and it’s something I’m really working on. But it seems like the holidays just amplify family tension (it’s that magical time of year!). I also used to LOVE to run, but like you and Elana, I had to learn that it wasn’t the best kind of physical activity for me. Good for you for being adaptable a giving your body what it needs! It’s not always easy when you miss that long run ;)
Mrs G says
I could have written #4 myself… ;-) nice to know I’m not the only one….
Seriously, Elana, thank you so much for your apple tart recipe. I made the crust with hazelnuts instead of pecans (here they are very expensive and I only buy them in moderation) and it turned out perfect. I also love your orange chocolate scones, we had so many of them this winter but now we’ve taken a break because of their sugar content… Your apple tart it’s just perfect, low sugar content and it’s delicious. Thank you again.
laura says
I’m the same, I need 8-9 hours of sleep or I simply can’t function, especially as a student people think I’m weird that I don’t stay up late cramming or pulling all nighters, but I retain so much more information when well-rested
Vanessa says
Hi Elana,
I love your site and really appreciate your posts on establishing boundaries. I’ve learned a great deal from your posts that discuss how you heal and manage your health. I think it’s great advice, even for those of us who are not living with certain health conditions but are just busy taking care of little ones and raising and family.
I even have your treatment tenets posted in our kitchen :)