Health and the Holidays
It's been a long road we have been wandering these last couple years. So much has been bombarding our nervous systems on a daily 24/7 loop. And for many people these two months in particular(November and December) ravage people’s nervous systems and immune systems even more- and that’s in our “old normal” years, let alone the stress from the last two years. The holidays put pressure on us that is largely manufactured by corporate interests for their financial benefit, but we play a huge role in going along with it all and even perpetuating it. I want you to know that you get to decide how these months play out for you- in fact, only you have that power for yourself and your family.
Did you know there is no biological or scientific reason why stress needs to go up during the winter months- according to natural laws it should actually be going down! There should be less to do, not more!
If you look around at what nature is doing you will notice that nature is resting during the winter months. There is nothing actively growing, blooming or producing fruit. There are fewer sunlight hours which means less natural energy. It’s a time for moving slower and being still.
Humans, on the other hand, charge through early winter when the holidays are happening at full steam ahead and many people amp up their stress with participating in the holidays the way we are pressured to via advertising. We spend more of our very hard earned money on stuff that ends up in a landfill within a year(creating financial pressure and subconscious burden on our hearts), we eat tons of sugar(cookies, pies, alcohol), and we typically have the same work loads even though the sun is not available to help us energy wise. Most people, myself included, notice a drop in energy, feeling more drained and tired and we tend to think something is wrong with us. Many people easily get sick, especially after the drop off of the excitement of the holidays after all the damage has been done, doctor visits go up and so does seasonal affective disorder(raise you hand if that’s you)!
What if I told you this year could be different for you? What if I told you there’s nothing wrong with you for getting exhausted, sick and more depressed this time of year, but that actually these are natural and logical responses based on our behavior and treatment of our bodies? What if I told you there’s nothing extra you need to do or buy in order to feel good during the entirety of winter. What if I told you the real solution is actually doing less!
What I’m suggesting to you is to once again consider what nature is doing and to follow it’s lead!
REST.
Resting is particularly hard for westerners. We are deeply conditioned from childhood to the idea that productivity holds the most value- all year round.
That we should be just as productive and naturally feel just as energized in the winter as we do in the summer months. I ask you, do you notice nature being productive? The answer is no, except for the regions around the equator where the sunlight stays the same.
Nature slows or goes dormant; so should you practice more stillness in the colder months for optimal health.
Obviously, we humans have created a way of living that is very unnatural at this point, but there are always things you can do to help yourself out immensely.
Some simple daily practices I recommend trying include: sleeping a little longer as the sun rises later, starting the day exposing your eyes to natural light and that crisp winter air to wake you up and refresh your energy, observing how your body feels after eating and experimenting with different foods, eating more seasonally which for winter is heavier, richer foods- yet not overeating, having a simple afternoon/early evening restorative yoga routine to prevent crashing from exhaustion, having less artificial light at night especially from screens and especially right before bed, drinking more hot, herbal teas to support digestion and nervous system, sleeping in a fully dark room and with an eye cover to reduce eye strain, going for daily walks outside- yes in the cold(bundle up), practicing boundaries around your work, practicing boundaries around shopping pressures(more stuff does not equal more love) and finally having time in your day for quiet reflection and to receive internal feedback from your body.
As someone who does practice all of this- and not perfectly as that doesn’t exist- I can tell you I rarely get sick during the holidays, I don’t go into debt and I don’t feel increased stress. I do however easily experience seasonal affective disorder and it can be very bad for me, so self care is my highest value and concern. There’s no amount of money or stuff in the world that can replacement balance, peace of mind and health.
My soul purpose is to support you in your journey of health sovereignty. I offer one-on-one coaching and Yoga sessions where we dive deeper into these topics and how to apply them to your life so that every aspect and season of your life becomes your medicine and you can heal yourself.
In Service,
Brittany