By Jane Cooperman
Everywhere you look this time of year; there are tips for surviving the holidays. My tips are about taking care of the one person who can make or break your holiday: you! Holidays can be happy times or depressing ones. There is much you can do to become your better self, which will give you and others a happier holiday.
• Prioritize self-care. Get enough sleep. Eat a healthy diet. Be moderate. Avoid sugary desserts, soda, and too much alcohol. Another idea? Give yourself a massage! Try the Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga. Before or after you shower, use a massage oil that you like and massage yourself from toes to head. Take time to massage the oil all over. This is you giving yourself some love. Maybe you don’t have time to do this every day, but on a holiday morning, think about how this will prepare you for the day ahead.
• Keep to your routines. If you take a run or a walk every day, don’t stop now. Do you meditate, pray, or spend quiet time reading? If this is important to you, don’t skip it. You might have to shorten the time, but don’t skip what’s valuable to you. It will help keep you centered and peaceful.
• Practice gratitude. Acknowledge and appreciate what you already have. You know many people who have so much less. Appreciating your life as it is will help counteract some of the commercialism and greed that seems to show up this time of year. Put this into action by performing acts of kindness. Volunteering at a soup kitchen or a food bank is one idea. This may come more naturally to you when you don’t feel deprived yourself. It’s most important if you tend to be lonely during the holidays. By giving back to others, you will be connecting with people. Feeling grateful and appreciative puts you in a mindset where you don’t feel you are missing out. You are more open to being happy and enjoying whatever you are doing.
• Stay connected. See friends and family. If you can’t, call them. Reach out to people you love and people you may not have spoken to in a while. Social connections are essential for good health – physical, mental and spiritual.
• Have an exit strategy. Here I am talking about those family situations where arguments get out of hand. Two of my cousins had a loud public argument about politics at a family gathering. One of them stood up and yelled, “You are not my cousin anymore,” and stormed out. This is not an example to follow. Remember the old advice about not talking about politics or religion? Follow it. It takes two people to make an argument. Be more interested in being peaceful than in being right. Let things go. When that’s not possible, look at your watch and gently say, “Sorry, I need to go now.” You can say “I have someplace else I have to be” without lying, because you have to be somewhere you can maintain your equanimity.
If any of these suggestions resonate with you, give them a try. Let me know how it works out. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season.
Jane Cooperman is a Health and Wellness Coach, trained by the Mayo Clinic & Registered Nurse. To learn more, visit her website: janecoopermanwellness.com, or call/text her at 201-240-4735.
