Sensei Talks  

The holiday season is here! And with all the decorations, presents, parties, and holiday cheer, come obligations, time pressure, and stress! There are many competing demands sucking up your time and attention this month and it can be hard to maintain a level of calmness and sanity.

Try to stick with your health goals - No, I’m not crazy…carving out some time to plan a few healthy meals and snacks can keep you energized and fueled to handle the mall and last minute shopping.

Don’t deprive yourself when it comes to desserts and treats, but DO practice moderation - Pick one dessert that’s your favorite or only available this time of year and enjoy it! For example, you might want to skip over the chocolate chip cookies that you can have any time and opt for a small glass of egg nog to toast the holiday.

Sweat! And I don’t mean ‘under the collar’. Really work to keep some form of activity in your day. I know it’s hard to get to the gym or your yoga class, so take your kids to the park and run around or catch up with a friend on a long walk instead. Physical activity is a great way to relieve stress, keep your energy high, and improve your mood. If you can’t find time for a long workout session, no problem! Studies show that breaking up activity into smaller bouts (like 10 min) throughout the day is just as effective for giving your body health benefits…go for it!

Learn to say ‘No’ – really, it’s ok. Even though it’s hard to turn down a party or say no to a friend’s request for a favor, you CAN'T do it all! Prioritizing your time and activities will help you really enjoy the invitations you accept, instead of rushing through one party to make an appearance at another.

Make a list - I’m kind of Type A like that (as you can tell by this post!), but lists can really be helpful. When you are feeling overwhelmed, put it all down on paper and get it out of your head. Write down the things you need to accomplish, then take a minute to put them in order with what is most important on top. If there are things you can hold off on, move them to the bottom of the list and know you can work on them tomorrow. Sometimes seeing tasks on paper can make them a little less daunting and help keep you focused on your action plan!

Oh yeah, maybe the most important one – don’t forget to breathe! Seriously, when you are feeling too rushed, too crazed, and too ‘out-of-time’, close your eyes for 5 seconds and take 3 deep breaths in and out. This forces you stop for a moment and collect yourself before you keep checking things off your list.

Try to recognize that the holiday season is really a time to spend with family and friends – hopefully you can find a few minutes to appreciate the people in your life and know that you are taking good care of them…and you.

Happy Holidays!