Am I the only one amazed that it is holiday time once again? It seems that summer just wrapped up last month and we were welcoming the splendor of autumn. Now we are in the midst of the holiday preparations that arrive soon after the Thanksgiving leftovers have been gobbled up. (I noticed that this week my local supermarket is featuring a display of snow shovels right inside the main entrance!)

Have you noticed that as each year passes time seems to accelerate and the seasons fly by more rapidly than ever before? Keeping up with the responsibilities of each season is stressful. Even the "fun" things – all the festivities, the decorating, getting together with friends and family can mean added stress. So, as always, I write to remind you to take the very best care of yourself possible this holiday season.

Because this time of year can be particularly stressful it is vital that we nurture our positive relationships and talk with loving family and friends whenever we can. Being able to vent our frustrations or share our triumphs with someone who cares about us helps us feel connected. Being overly busy may complicate this at times however, and we may feel lonely and isolated if we don’t maintain those important ties through the busiest times.

Identify people who can help you to thrive during the holiday season, or any time. Find people who will listen and not judge you or feed you advice that you definitely don’t want or need. Talk to a buddy – a human one, a pet, perhaps a Chewlett or a favorite stuffed animal. I find that when folks are stressed, lonely, tired, sad, etc. they are often tempted to race for a fix of sugars and carbohydrates to calm themselves down and take the edge off their feelings. Contact your buddy instead and talk about what’s eating you.

None of us are immune to the pressures of the holiday season. This time of year brings many opportunities and one of those opportunities is to over indulge. We may think we are only going to have one piece of mom’s apple pie or cheesecake but how many of us are content to stop there? For some of us that pie may open the floodgates of craving and many of us have spent holiday season after holiday season telling ourselves to have just one little treat and finding ourselves instead overeating through not only the holiday season but also well beyond the New Year. Our lives are demanding and to live each day to the fullest requires dedication and energy. If we overindulge instead of taking care of ourselves, we are likely to find even small tasks daunting. We can easily slip out of balance and we don’t feel well. Overdoing in any area of our lives leads to lethargy and we lose the sparkle, zest and vitality required to make each day vibrant and memorable.

I am frequently asked for tips on how to get through this time of year without the self-abuse of overindulging. Here are a couple of ideas to help you:

Besides chatting with your supports, reserve time each day just for yourself (Are you surprised to hear me say that?!!). Along with the hustle and bustle of holiday time come extra tasks that compete for your time and energy – decorating, baking, choosing, buying and wrapping presents, writing thoughtful cards to friends and loved ones, etc. See if you can delegate some of your responsibilities to others.

Pay special attention your body. Get plenty of rest and pure water. Make sure to include lots of protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates in your diet and move your body every day. Attending to these basic physical needs is sure to help you manage everything else.

You may find yourself rushing around taking care of everyone and everything but yourself. Find ways to create private, quiet, relaxing time for yourself. If you don’t, you are likely to become overtired, overwhelmed and consequently likely to over-feed yourself as a way to cope with holiday stress. Also, do your best to balance quiet time with times of fun, laughter and joy.

If you attend to your “whole” picture and learn to provide whatever is most nurturing for you in each moment, you are far more likely to take care of yourself in healthy ways all season long. When you truly attend to yourself, you are better equipped to attend to the needs of others as well. You are more relaxed, more balanced and more energetic. Holiday time can be more fun and less like an exhausting commercial marathon.

So please enjoy the spirit of this time of year. Do only what you truly want to do and decline needless chores, chaos and calories. Make this the best holiday season ever by taking the very best care of yourself. Keep yourself number one. You’re worth it! I wish you and your loved ones many, many holiday blessings!

Warmly,

Dr. Denise