The Christmas break can present as a magical time of joy, connection, and time with family and friends, which we absolutely love. The flip side is that stress can creep in from a variety of avenues without you knowing it. All of a sudden, a festive time of year can yield to bustle, anxiety, sadness, and overwhelm. Whether you’re filled with joy or a bit stressed out this season, use these simple holiday de-stress tools regularly to fill your cup and take care of you.
Breathe!
An easy and simple technique to calm down the nervous system FAST. Try this!
Take a full breath in through the nose.
Sip in an extra drink of air in at the top.
Sigh all of the air out through the mouth.
Repeat 2 or 3 times and notice how you feel.
Move! Even if you cannot fit in a full workout, move your body a little. Micro movements, such as a quick walk around the block, a short movement break at home (like any of the Pilates CALM classes in The Online Studio), or even playing with a dog or animal will help blow off a little holiday steam.
Snuggle!
Don’t discredit the power of a cuddle, hug, or time with a loved one or family pet this time of year. We’re often moving at warp speed to “fit it all in,” so take time for an extra hug, hold a loved one’s hand, or give an extra pet to your furry family member.
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