Free Yourself from the Stress: Self Care During the Holidays

Chances are, your switch is still set at fast and furious to get all your holiday work done.  This past week, more clinic goers have been asking me to help them reduce holiday stress. We all need to remember to slow down.  Has the cold already encouraged you to retreat inside and to rest? Are you listening to mother nature?  Or do you still need a little extra help?  This is where self-care comes in.

Self-care should be a common thread in all of our lives.  We all need to learn to take care of ourselves and prevent illness.  Prevention is much easier than curing health concerns once they have already found you. A simple solution is to take time for yourself. What will you make time for this holiday season to care for YOU?

Acupuncture is a great place to start.  Community acupuncture allows for a cost effective maintenance plan for your body and stress levels.  Come in a few times a month for the price of a few movie tickets.  Maintenance care will help you return to center.  Finding the right dosage is important. If you’re feeling out of balance, weekly or bi-weekly treatments may be what is needed and what is effective. Once you have five or six treatments under your belt, you will begin to know how often you need to come in to feel your best. You will be the expert on your body. Trusting that is not only empowering, but also enables you to own the phrase “self-care”.

Sometimes we wish we could do one thing, or take one pill and then – BLAM – we are well.  But reality shows that it takes multiple, positive choices to find ourselves happy and well.  So what else can you do this year?  Common sense is hard to hear:  eat well, exercise, and do what you love.   My big picture self-care regimen includes bi-weekly hikes or jogs in nature, weekly acupuncture sessions, meals made of recognizable ingredients (with a little chocolate thrown in), and having a job that feels more like a calling than work.

As we scramble to make magic happen this holiday season, remember what the holidays are really about at their most basic – being with loved ones, giving thanks for all that we have, and showing honor to our traditions. I wish you peace this holiday. And if you need help finding some, there is a recliner in a warm cozy room waiting for you.

Book your self care appointment today by calling us at (908)237-1076 or by clicking here to make your appointment online.