The Hum-Bug and Happy of the Holidays

Dealing with stress is so important to you health.  I thought you would appreciate this article.

To Your Health,
Lisa

The Hum-Bug and Happy of the Holidays

By Sue Urda

Is it getting to you yet? Do you feel the pressure and push of the holiday season? And even though you’d like to be jolly and bright, you find yourself being a bit of a Scrooge? No worries. There are lots of people who feel this way on and off during the holiday season, and there IS hope!

Here are 9 Stress-Less Tips for the Holidays:

Get Connected – The holidays are the perfect time to deepen the connection and understanding you have with others. When you’re at a gathering, whether it is large or small, make a point of having intimate conversations and truly getting to know the people you are with. You’ll be surprised how open and fun they are when you show them that you are interested in them. You don’t have to be a great conversationalist; simply ask questions and see where it takes you.

Cross Some Things Off Your List. – You know that humongous list you wrote of all the baking and decorating and visiting and shopping you wrote? Well, most likely you’re not going to get it all done anyway, so why not strategically cross things off before you start. The holidays will be great without 22 different types of cookies. Really! Be reasonable and be flexible as you think about the time everything takes and be sure to include things on your list that you enjoy the most.

Pick a Theme for the Holidays – This year my theme is peace. Last year it was Fun. Decide in advance the most important feeling that you would like to feel and plan everything around your theme. Be sure to tell your family, friends and co-workers about your theme and you’ll find that they’ll contribute positively to it!

Set a Budget – Don’t get caught up in the whirlwind of the commercialism of the holidays and the massive sales events that have you spending way more money than is comfortable for you. If you start with a specific dollar amount in mind, it will help to narrow down your choices as you plan menus, travels, decorating and gift-giving.

Set Your Boundaries – The holidays are a time when we get together with our family members who we might not see very often, and each one of them has their own idea of what ‘should’ happen during the celebration. Be sure to speak up and put in motion the things that are important to you. And remember that it’s okay to say ‘no’ when you mean no.

Schedule ‘Me Time’ - I know, I know. You think there is no time for you and all the other things you want to do and get done. The truth is that if you don’t schedule time for yourself, you’ll end up frazzled and on edge. And we all know what happens next. So, be sure to plan time with friends or with a bubble bath. You and everyone you’re with will benefit from your down time.

Gift Giving From the Heart – Having to ‘exchange’ gifts seems so cold. Instead, think of gift giving as something you do in conjunction with the feelings in your heart. As you buy gifts, think of the person you love and picture them enjoying the gift you gave them. How much money should you spend? Whatever feels good and comfortable for you.

Reflect and Reminisce – The holidays are a great time to share memories and talk about the great times you have had. Asking relatives about family members who have passed is a great way to understand traditions and will also bring a better understanding of the family members surrounding you now.

GIVE THANKS! – Always express your gratitude for the people and events in your life. Be as vocal as possible and you’ll find that you start an epidemic, because gratitude is contagious just like happiness, love and joy. What do you have to be thankful for? Look around and be grateful for everyone and everything you see. That’s what the holidays are about after all!

Now that's Powerful!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sue Urda is known as ‘The Connections Expert’. She is an Author, Speaker, Inspirer & Co-Founder of Powerful You! Women’s Network. Sue is a two-time honoree on INC Magazine’s list of the 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Her award-winning book, Powerful Intentions Everyday Gratitude: 100 Transformational Days to Create a Life of Joy, Grace and Ease is designed to help you understand the complex workings of your mind, tap the inner wisdom of your heart & live each day through deliberate creation and intent. Sue assists women in their own pursuit of success, joyful-living & balance and her mission is to connect women to each other, their visions & themselves. www.sueurda.com

Tricks and Treats for Halloween

Halloween should give you some good scares, not actually anything to worry about.

For a safe and ecofriendly holiday, try these tips:

-Set a spooky mood with soy or beeswax candles, not those made from petroleum-based paraffin. If you like scented candles, look for ones with fragrances derived from essential oils rather than synthetic chemicals.

-Invest creativity instead of cash in your costume. Dig into the back of the closet (yours or a friend's) or hit the thrift store to find wacky clothes and accessories instead of buying plastic costumes.

-Avoid masks made out of vinyl. Latex ones are safer, unless you're allergic to the material.

-Whether you're going glamorous or ghoulish, use natural makeup to avoid chemical exposure.

-Hand out fair trade or organic chocolates, organic hard candy, fruit snacks, or other ecofriendly edibles to all those cute trick-or-treaters.

-Worried about rotting those little monsters' teeth? Fun nonfood alternative treats include nontoxic crayons, coloring books, stickers, or even small change.

-Whether for dressing up or handing out, avoid costume jewelry, especially glossy, fake painted pearls and toys from vending machines, both of which may contain lead. There have been many recalls of lead-containing children’s products this year, so use a Lead Check kit if you're unsure about a toy your child already owns.

-Look up some recipes for pumpkin pie, soup, or curry so your decoration doesn't go to waste after Halloween. (Not much of a chef? Compost that jack-o-lantern, at least.)

-Don't forget a reusable shopping bag to carry your trick-or-treating haul!

Staying Healthy during the Holidays...

I thought I'd share this letter on staying healthy during the holidays.

If you want to know more about Cinch, contact me and I'll let you know about our special offer.

To Your Health,
Lisa


Of course the holidays are fun. But let’s be honest; faced with a dizzying array of shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, entertaining guests, and attending too many social events to count, the holiday season can also be stressful, leaving you feeling exhausted, frazzled, and under the weather!

The stress associated with the holidays is a double-edge sword. In the right dose, it can get you going and inspire you to pull together a fabulous holiday meal or find just the perfect gift for someone special. But too much stress all at once, or day after day without a break, can be overwhelming, leaving you prone to holiday melt-downs instead of merriment.

Here are a few ideas to help you manage this holiday season better so it is the happy—and healthy—time it can be!

1) Take Control of Your Schedule

Plan ahead – The next few weeks will be chock full of places to go, people to see, and things to do. This end-of-the-year sprint to the finish zaps even the heartiest among us. It can be helpful to put it all on paper and create a schedule. Book one day to complete your Christmas shopping and another day just for cooking and baking. This can increase efficiency. And be sure to complete your menus, create shopping lists and to-do lists in advance.

Just say no, occasionally - Be realistic with what you can accomplish in a day. Long lines in shopping malls and sitting in traffic jams can increase your stress and leave you short on time. Be realistic with each day’s list—and give yourself permission to take a few items off your plate. Delegate some things to your spouse or even an older child.

Be sure to build in some down time – Take some time for yourself … every day. We ALL need some down time every day. It doesn’t need to be 2 hours—even a 20 minute walk, or sitting and having a cup of tea and reading a good book for 20-30 minutes can recharge your batteries and refresh your soul!

2) Hang on to Your Healthy Habits

A little exercise can go a long way – You’ll feel so much better about indulging in that luscious pumpkin pie or holiday cocktail if you commit to doing something active every day. It’s too easy to skip your daily walk or gym routine. If the weather is bad, try making two brisk circuits around the mall before you do your shopping. Get the family out to the local ice skating rink once a week or find a YMCA or other such location to get in some laps. Exercise helps burn extra calories, helps reduce stress and can help boost your energy!

Eat healthy when you can – Of course you’ll want to sample those seasonal favorites and savor every bite of that holiday meal, but you can also try to be disciplined in filling up with the veggies (with just a smidgen of dip) from the appetizers—and while we’re talking about vegetables, be sure that you eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and/or fruits every day! On non-party days, commit to meals that are based on salads, healthy stir-fry with grilled fish or chicken. This is a great time of year to make a hearty soup full of vegetables and beans. And every morning should start out with a filling Cinch shake—there are a myriad of shake recipes available on www.cinchclub.com.

Avoid fast foods---period! – There just isn’t a good reason to visit fast food places but plenty of good reasons to walk the extra block to find a deli that will make you a wonderful sandwich piled high with veggies on a tasty whole-grain bread choice. Your waistline will thank you!

Snack strategically – Working hard to manage your waistline all year, only to let go completely during the holidays, just doesn’t make sense. So, snack wisely! It really isn’t that hard—it just takes a bit of consciousness-raising. At parties, snack on the carrot sticks, broccoli florets and cherry tomatoes before sampling (yes, just sampling) the dessert table. Go light on the dip and sauces—or better yet, skip them and enjoy the fresh veggies and festive skewers on their own. And, if someone drops off cookies at your home, take them into the office and share them!!

Get your rest – Sleep restores the body and revives your spirits, so make sure to get enough of it—and that means 8 hours for you and 9 to 10 hours for your young children. Too little sleep just compounds the holiday stress and energy drain that can occur for so many.

Remember to take your supplements-- My Rx for a Healthier Life™ is a great foundation providing antioxidants, botanicals and probiotics to support your immune system, vitamins and minerals to round out your diet, a fantastic tasting, energizing breakfast to start your day off right and the incomparable cellular anti-aging dietary supplement, Vivix®!*

Sending warmest wishes for health and happiness,


Dr. Jamie McManus M.D.
Chairman, Medical Affairs and Health Sciences
Shaklee Corporation