How to De-Stress
and Refocus on YOU after the Holidays
Do the holidays leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed? Are you coming
down with a cold or the flu? Or perhaps the rich holiday foods caused weight
gain or a general sluggish feeling?
It may be your body's way of saying it's time to refocus on YOU.
Often the holidays are about everyone else: their gifts, their parties, their
wellbeing. Actually, you can take care of everyone else even better if
you first take care of yourself!
If the end of the holiday season has you hitting the snooze button
one too many times, NOW is the time to take care of yourself!
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So, if January 1st rolls around and you feel less than ready to embark on
a fresh new year, then you (and your loved ones) might benefit from some self-care.
Nature's Self-Care
The last few months of winter are an ideal time to treat yourself well, cleanse
your system, and re-energize your body.
Plants and animals intuitively know that they need to rest during winter
to be ready for the renewal and rebirth of spring. While our thinking minds
are a great asset, they can also get in the way of our body's natural need
for rest. Our thinking minds push us to do more, accomplish more, when our
bodies want us to rest and renew.
So, take a cue from nature! Why not mark your calendar for a relaxing long
weekend of hibernation? Take the time to get some much-needed sleep, nourish
your adrenals and restore your body's balance. For more on the many benefits
this has for your health, read: Sleeping
Troubles? Learn Why Winter is the Ideal Time to Learn How to Sleep Right.
YOUR Self-Care Routine
A long weekend can go a long way to restoring wellbeing, but it's actually
the small, daily acts of self-care that will keep you feeling your best in
all seasons.
Create your own personal rituals of self-care to renew and restore every
day. Here are some ideas that you can begin to incorporate into your
routine:
- Get to bed early - ideally around 10:00 pm.
- Spend the hour before bed winding down with quiet activities like reading
or a warm bath.
- Put beautiful, relaxing music on at night.
- Do yoga or t'ai chi.
- Drink a cup of calming tea before bed. Tulsi Tea, and camomile or sleepy
time tea blends found in your health food store are readily available. Body
Ecology's Green Tea is caffeine free. Green tea contains theanine, an
amino acid that is calming.
- Meditate in the morning and/or night.
- Use essential oils, like lavender, for relaxation.
- Turn off electric lamps right after the dinner dishes are done and light
candles for a soft glow.
- Practice deep breathing to slow your heart rate and reduce anxiety.
- Cross things off your 'to do' list so that your mind is free to focus
on other things.
- Take 15 minutes during lunch to go outside and get some sun, even on overcast
winter days.
- Make a renewed commitment to the Body Ecology program of health and healing.
- Discover the healing power of touch.
Resistance to Self-Care
You may feel like you don't have enough time to establish your own rituals,
or you might have limiting beliefs that make you think they won't work. If
you're feeling these kinds of blocks, try the highly effective and easy Emotional
Freedom Technique, or EFT.
EFT is a system of healing that has been shown to reduce anxiety, increase
relaxation and even cure addiction. By tapping on emotional acupressure points,
EFT can help you clear negative thoughts and get relief from pain, diseases
and emotional issues.
New Year, New You with Body Ecology
The New Year is an ideal time to refocus on the healing benefits of the Body
Ecology program. Body Ecology's system of health and healing builds your energy,
calms and grounds you, helps you cleanse and revitalizes your body. New habits
take time - and you are worth it! Take time out to put yourself and your
health first.
As you incorporate these principles into your life, you'll feel less stress
and more energy. You may be surprised to find that this investment in yourself
gives you more energy to enjoy the people and the world around you. Hopefully
you are enjoying the Holiday Season!
For more information, listen to the audio CD, Establishing
a Foundation for Wellness by Donna Gates. Or learn about the savings you
receive from buying all 5 of Donna Gates' highly acclaimed health and wellness
CDs and get your New Year off
to a healthy start!
For a great way to get comprehensively grounded in Body Ecology principles
and your own health, consider our next Certified
Body Ecologist Training. Celebrate the New Year with a week in sunny Jupiter,
Florida where you can experience delicious Body Ecology food and receive your
certification in our world renowned system of health and healing!
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