Licensed Mental Health Counselor Liz White shares healthy tips for the holiday!
S.E.L.F. Care for the Holidays
Most people think the holidays are a festive time for everyone. The truth is the holiday season can bring challenges for some us. The loss of a relationship or loved one, financial strain, or even these days of decreased sunlight that accompany winter can all be triggers for anxiety and depression. If you find yourself struggling this season, don’t throw in the towel. Rest assured that there are some things you can do to make this time of year more manageable. I’d like to break these steps down for you by encouraging you to take really good care of yourS.E.L.F. Yes, in this time of “giving” it is essential that you still make time for S.E.L.F. care. This acronym S.E.L.F. stands for Serenity, Exercise, Love and Food. Please make sure you make a little time for each of these each day in little ways and just watch your ability to bounce back improve. Read below and you will find a few suggestions for ways to bring more Serenity, Exercise, Love and Food in your life.
Serenity:
Ask yourself what activities help you feel the most at peace. When you get a few ideas, write down your findings and keep that list and then begin to add a few of those activities to your schedule. Many people think they don’t have time to “relax” or “unwind”, but you really don’t have time not to. There is only so much running around you can do without recharging. Some may find serenity in a good soak in a bubble bath, listening to a few minutes of smooth jazz, reading the Bible, or even a cat nap. How about you? What are you doing to help reach your place of serenity?
Exercise:
If you just search the internet you’ll find the research that confirms the benefits of a good sweat. Using fitness trackers and health apps are very much the norm for many of us now. Taking time to get some exercise each day can do wonders for your mood. I’m not asking you to live in the gym. You can start to see benefits in as little as 20 minutes a day. Here are a few suggestions: Take a full lap around the grocery store briskly before you start to fill your cart. How about parking further from the door to the mall as you do your Christmas shopping. I love working out at home with DVDs. There are loads of15-20 minute videos you could try, but you could do something that doesn’t cost a dime just by going up and down your steps during commercials or doing some crunches if those old knees are giving you trouble. What do you think?
Love:
Spending time with people you love or re-engaging with a hobby you’ve loved are great ways to support yourself. While there can be a lot of hustle and bustle during this time of year, it can also be a time for great quality time with friends or catching up on interests. Making a Facetime call to your friend in another state or spending an hour reading a chapter in that book you’ve been meaning to finish might really give you your second wind. If you are dealing with the loss of love in some way, please don’t isolate yourself. Give some other people who love you the opportunity to be a part of your life.
Food:
Now we’re on to food. This one can be a tricky one as the possibility of overindulging in rich holiday foods is high, but some of you might be the primary caregivers in which case you might actually be running around and forget to refuel on healthy foods. Prepack some healthy snacks and take them with you if you’ll be out and about. It might even help to set a timer in your phone to remind you to eat if you lose track of time easily. Keeping your body fueled can help you fight off the exhaustion that comes from playing Martha Stewart. Hopefully, it goes without saying, but just in case it doesn’t, please don’t forget to drink plenty of water too. If you are a prone to overindulging be honest with yourself about the negative consequences as you see it and try to set a boundary that helps you feel good about your choices. For example, drinking a bottle of water before eating might help you feel fuller thereby reducing your chances of overeating.
I hope you find these tips helpful. If you find that this was a great start for you, but you need more support don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional who can work with you and provide more interventions that might help you bounce back.
From my house to yours well wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Elizabeth C. White, MA, LMHC, LCAC
The Well Counseling and Consulting Group
https://www.facebook.com/TheWellCCG
Twitter:@thewelltoday
