– Gandhi
Who doesn’t feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day? As the holidays approach, the pace and pressure seem to be even more intense. We rush through the day, running here and there, and end up exhausted. Somehow these days full of duties, obligations and busyness have begun to build up and become our lives. We spend our time doing things we don’t always want to do; yet feel we should: planning, shopping, answering invitations. We’ve come to believe that being productive and crossing things off our to-do list is the ultimate goal.
The truth is that life is a gift, and our time is too precious to be used like this. If we want our lives to be balanced and healthy, we need to lessen our load and increase our down time. We need to learn to keep things simple. This means planning less in a day, prioritizing those things that make our hearts sing and de-prioritizing those things that are not imperative.
If we must accomplish many things each day, we can still change the quality with which we do things. How can we translate the stress into something delicious instead of the usual gripping and tightening experience? Where can we find ease in the midst of the stress? How can we dodge the triggers? How can we cultivate the art of slowing down?
Take a few moments each day to be grateful for all you have and all you are. Take some time before you climb out of bed to think about what you want from the day. Make time for your health, physical and mental well-being. Make time for even a short walk. Do some deep breathing, listen to calming music, or just sit and be present with yourself. Adding one moment here and there for slowness will have a profound effect on your well-being.
Food For Thought
Be careful to maintain your healthy diet on the days leading up to a family gathering or holiday party. This will help to curb your hunger and control your blood sugar so you have less of a chance to overindulge. A day or two of overeating won’t do lasting harm to your efforts so maintain perspective. If you feel you’ve overindulged, put it behind you without guilt. Return to your healthy meal plan the next day. Take care of yourself by creating a safe haven – send the leftovers home with your guests, be sure to have your healthy options at hand. Limit caffeine so as not to feel jittery and interrupt sleep. Be aware of your alcohol consumption as it is caloric and can make it more difficult to choose the healthier options.
Enjoy the days ahead!! Celebrate the true meaning of your holiday, take the focus off the food and relish in the time spent with friends and family.
I wish you a glorious holiday season, full of love, joy and good health.
Stop fearing what food will do TO you…
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