The Holiday Season is finally here. It's known as "the most wonderful time of the year." But between all the buying of gifts, decorating, food preparation, trying not to break healthy habits (or the bank), attending parties and family gatherings, it can also be the most stressful time of the year!

It's so important to make time for self-care and self-love during the holidays. Here's some tips to help reduce stress and bring you more comfort and joy.

1. Make time for self-care. When you are too busy to practice self-care, this is the time you need it the most! Taking just 10 minutes to sit in stillness with a cup of tea, listening to music or going outside for some fresh air can do wonders for your mental health.
2. Just say NO. It's easy to over-commit during the holidays by saying yes to all the things. Say yes to the things that matter to you most, but don't be afraid to set boundaries and say No to the things that drain you or are stressful.
3. Get enough sleep. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Adequate sleep is vital for us to feel our best in body, mind and spirit and helps to keep our immune system strong.
4. Stay hydrated. By simple rules, most people should drink half of their body weight in ounces (unless contraindicated by your healthcare provider). If you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink 80 ounces of water. Water helps boost our energy, promotes healthy skin, improves brain function, helps in digestion, flushes out toxins and so much more.
5. Limit alcohol. Those holiday cocktails are tempting, but we all know that too much is not a good thing! Alcohol can impair our thinking, cause mood swings, alter our decision-making skills, raise blood pressure, damage digestive, kidney and liver function, and much more! Try following the one-to-one rule - for every alcoholic beverage you have, follow it with a glass of water.
6. Stay active. Make time for some type of physical exercise several times per week. Moving our bodies can help reduce stress and anxiety, boost energy and help burn off extra calories from those holiday treats!
7. Make a budget and stick to it. Why put yourself in debt and jeopardize your financial health? Be realistic on what you can afford to spend. Consider giving loved ones experiences, rather than materialistic stuff, make handmade gifts, donate money or volunteer your time to a favourite charity.
8. Take a break from social media. Practice self-care by limiting your time on social media. Monitor your engagement and schedule activity. Turn off notifications. Disconnect before bedtime.
9. Practice an attitude of Gratitude. When you're having a bad day or things aren't going the way you want, start thinking of all the things you are grateful for....and feel your mood shift. There's always something to be grateful for, even in negative situations.
10. Pamper yourself. Treat yourself to some holiday pampering by getting a new hairdo, get your nails done, do Yin Yoga, book a relaxing massage or Healing Touch session. You deserve it!

"Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold."

- Josephine Daskam Bacon

Be Well.

Josie Knowles

RN, RNP, RYT-200, HTP-A

www.josieknowles.com