A holiday season evolved
Photo by Johnny Miller
The holiday season is basically upon us. I am wondering how you plan for this time. Travel, altered schedules, unpredictability, and family collectively grasp at willpower reserves. Culinary temptations further deepen the chasm between what you know will do you good in the long run and what will luxuriate the senses for a few fleeting moments.
Holiday “stress” provokes negative self-talk and inevitably, toxic habits are triggered.
As I was planning this year’s holiday menu and agenda, I felt my eyebrows furrowing and my jaw clenching - the whispers of holiday stress already creeping in. I took a moment to reimagine how I could make this holiday less stressful. How I would navigate my personal demons. I know that by consciously preparing myself, preserving a cheery holiday disposition will be much easier. Truth be told, while I bellyache about holiday stress-overload, this is my favorite time of year.
Here are some simple tips you can use to keep centered.
Start the day well. Though maintaining a regular morning routine may be challenging, throwing the baby out with the bathwater would be unfortunate. Let’s call it morning routine lite. This could mean a shorter meditation or a moving meditation while doing morning exercises instead of a full sitting meditation of 20-30 minutes. If you are “lucky’ enough to be in a hotel, make use of the extra time it would take to make your own bed for conscious breath work or meditation. If you like to make your hotel bed, as I do, weave a gratitude practice into that time.
On the road via air, land (or water), pack your own snacks. Airport/plane, pitstop food is notoriously unreliable. Some ideas are nuts and seeds, chopped veggies, hard-boiled eggs, avocados, individual olive oil packets, canned fish (salmon, sardines, smoked oysters), and a green powder (our favorite is Organifi).
Hydrate. When out of the usual routine, it is easy to forget to drink water. Ideally, we should be drinking enough water so that we never get to the point of thirst. Think about setting an alarm throughout the day to remind you to drink a glass of water. Bringing a bottle wherever you go is helpful as well.
Fast or eat fat/protein. Consciously fasting for 10-16 hours (depending on who you are) will help improve fat burning, increase metabolic rate, and normalize your appetite. This could simply mean pushing your breakfast back an hour or two. If and when you do eat your first meal, be sure to get in enough proteins and healthy fats. They are satiating - it is hard to overeat fat and protein - and will keep your blood sugar stable, hence minimizing cravings.
Drink wisely. I love a glass of wine or two, but am religious about they types of wines I drink. Biodynamic wines are inherently organic, contain no harmful additives and are fermented with native yeasts - and this is what I stick to. Dry Farm Wines curates delicious low alcohol, low sugar biodynamic wines from small producers around that world. Whenever possible, I pack few bottles of Dry farm Wines wines with me. They make lovely gifts as well!
Prefer cocktails? Choose cleaner varieties of alcohol such as vodka or gin. Get creative with mixers. Try using digestive aids and low sugar options (bitters, kombucha, sparkling water, lemon, lime, and/or perhaps a stevia sweetened soda such as Zevia).
Drink a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage. This will slow you down and help keep you hydrated. For more tips, see here.
Move. All Day Long. Take walks. Play games like touch football or tag with the kids. Put on music and dance while you cook. Throw in random squats, push ups (insert exercise of choice) here and there. If you have an extra few moments, doing a high intensity interval training before a big meal will help regulate blood sugar. Here are some ideas. Even 30-60 seconds of intense movement will make a significant difference. After a meal, move again. Dance, walk, have sex - the choice activity does not matter.
And regarding your inner disposition…
Consciously cook all food you will be offering yourself and others with deep gratitude. The energy you put into cooking, transfers to the recipient. Made with gratitude - received with love.
Escape. Strategize time for yourself during the day. Allow yourself the space to clear your mind and unwind, even if only for a few moments.
Be flexible.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
LAUGH A LOT.
These last five are as important, arguably even more.
Here is a cheat sheet. Print it out and hang it somewhere visible as a daily reminder!
This list is a work in progress. Have any tips to add? I’d love to hear them.
