The Reason for the Season...It's Not What You Think

by Glen Depke

We're going to have some fun with this conversation but let's recognize the truth within it.

The reason for the season is to put clients in my office. What??? It's not about family, the baby Jesus, Santa Claus, giving, or peace on earth? While we like to think it is all about the above sentence, is that what you truly recognize every year.

I see the fallout of holiday stress, eating, drinking, family issues, and adrenal exhaustion, in my office at the beginning of every year. With this, it is my conclusion that the reason for the season is to fill my schedule.

So what's a person to do?

While I am more than happy to take care of my clients when they have challenges, there are some simple tips you can follow to keep yourself healthy through the holidays.

First, when you recognize that the hustle and bustle is getting to you…breathe. Yes, taking the time to take 3 -5 deep belly breaths can shift you out of the stress and anxiety and put your body back into a state of balance. To deal with the stress, I would also recommend downloading your favorite upbeat and energizing song and/or a clip from a movie that you know gives you the warm and fuzzies. This will give you something “ready to go” to create that ever important mood shift.

Second, is to stay hydrated. Too often the holiday parties lead to an overconsumption of alcohol and an under consumption of water. Be sure to start every day with a 16 – 20 ounce glass of water, sip water all day and be sure to always have a big glass of water between every alcoholic beverage. Just falling into dehydration can create many challenges for you, so this one is easy to maintain with little effort.

Food, oh yes, food during the holidays. Be sure to stay away from the flour based foods as much as possible and take a small piece of what entices you instead of loading the plate. It is a good idea to cut down on the quantity of food you consume at regular meal time, since you know you are going to make up the difference at your holiday parties and gatherings. Be sure to also take you Prime Digestive Support every time you are eating cooked food, to be sure you maintain proper digestion. I would also recommend that you eat prior to drinking when you are out and enjoying. Nothing is worse than working all day, going to a party hungry, and starting the festivities with a couple of glasses of wine on an empty stomach.

Be sure to schedule adequate sleep. If you know you will be out late for a holiday party, give yourself permission to sleep in the next day. To make sure you can fall asleep quickly, be sure to cut off alcohol the last hour or so of you party also and switch to water. This will assist in come improved sleep habits. On nights that you are not out, get to bed a bit earlier than normal. This will help you immensely in the long run.

Often we get caught up in the hustle and bustle to the point that our usual exercise routine also suffers. If this is the case, recognize that you need less food and not more at this time. You can also help by doing some little things like parking further away from the mall when shopping, taking stairs instead of elevators…you get the picture.

Most importantly, simply enjoy yourself. Yes, it is a busy time of the year but if you create the energy of fun and play with what you are doing, this will immensely help you in maintaining your own health and wellness and heck, the people around you will have a lot more fun also.

For those that are not able to make these simple changes and your holiday’s are going to push you into states of poor health, feel free to take advantage of the Depke Wellness “Gift of Health” offer on our newsletter. This is an awesome way to start the new year of 2011!

Please enjoy the holiday season and by all means , have fun!