Managing Stress Through the Holiday Season
Updated: Dec 10, 2020
Hello Gardeners!
As joyful as this time of year is, it can also be a little overwhelming. With shopping, planning, decorating and keeping things festive... staying on the brighter side of things can sometimes be a challenge. Today we are dedicating our #PullYourWeeds post to stress-reducing, nerve-busting tips to help you get the most cheer out of this holiday season!
# 1 L E T G O O F E X P E C T A T I O N S
Holiday planning can be a lot of extra work. Looking ahead and taking the necessary steps to help you stay on track and organized can sometimes be overwhelming. If there is anything this year has taught us is take things one day at a time and don't get too far ahead of yourself. When you find yourself in a position where you feel like you are running thin, instead of asking yourself what should I be doing right now, try swapping the thought for what do I want to be doing right now. When we let ourselves off the hook from expectations and focus more on appreciation it can help keep the balance in our mental well-being.
# 2 M A K E T I M E F O R Y O U
Dedicating time for yourself helps you to bring your best to whatever priorities and challenges come your way. Be sure to carve out some special time that is just for you, even if you have to schedule it on your calendar. If you are looking for a craft or activity to help you relax and re-focus, be sure to take a look through our previous blog posts for some fun ideas!
# E X P R E S S G R A T I T U D E
Even during the toughest moments - we can always find ONE thing for which we are grateful. There's a famous quote by an unknown author that says, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." This slight shift in perspective doesn't necessarily make the bad things seem not so bad, but they make the good things seem so much better! Check out our garden cycle for some more inspiration...click here!
Practice this exercise with your family to create a Gratitude Garden!
# 4 T R E A T Y O U R S E L F
We've got a relaxing, luxurious, homemade mask for you to make with simple ingredients you can find in your pantry or at the grocery store!
You will need:
Raw honey (2 tbsp)
Ground cinnamon (2 tsp)
Lemon juice (1 wedge, squeezed)
Raw honey is a wonderful anti-bacterial moisturizer, ground cinnamon acts as an exfoliant, and the lemon juice helps brighten skin and fight excess oil and acne**!
*If you have sensitive skin or are unsure of your reactions to these ingredients, first test on small area of hand or arm
**We are not dermatologists, but we have seen this mask work wonders from personal use!
Your skin will thank you : )
# 5 P R A C T I C E M I N D F U L N E S S
Taking even 5 minutes to do some deep breathing can really help regulate your stress levels and keep you present this holiday season! Find some guided meditations on Youtube or using a podcast app, download a mindfulness app, or try practicing mindfulness with the whole family using one of these techniques!