Simple “Get Happy” Tips for Winter and the Holiday Season

This is a wonderfully hectic season. So many people get stressed out during the holidays and winter itself can be a real downer for our mood and general happiness levels. It is so very easy to forget the simple pleasures of life and to put your own health and mental well being to the side. By making a few quick and simple changes we can make feeling happy in the moment a little easier…

Turn It Off – The TV that is. Holiday ads are screaming “BUY, BUY, BUY!” Quiet the craziness by pushing the off button. Let your DVR handle things for awhile. Instead pick up a book or put on some music that you love.

Sleep Well – When things are hectic it is more important than ever to pick a reasonable bed time and stick with it. Your body needs to have a routine and you need the sleep. Get some blackout curtains and a wake up light if you can.

Let Nature Be Your Decorator – You don’t need pricey decor. Grab some pinecones, holly, evergreen boughs, stones, and citrus fruits (to make pomanders). You get lovely, sustainable, low cost decor and you benefit from the being outside to do the gathering.

Take a Whiff of Citrus – Speaking of citrus fruits…researchers have found over the years that citrus fragrance boosts feelings of well-being and increases levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that affects mood. Clean your house with citrus and use essential oils. I like to diffuse Citrus Fresh and also a combo of Purification and Lemon. Sooooo very nice! When out and about add some oils to a handkerchief and keep it in your pocket.

Drink Your Veggies – Don’t skimp on seasonal veggies when all those holiday goodies are around. Blend up some beets, carrots, kale, apples, and pears into a yummy green smoothie.

Don’t Try to Do It All – Make a list of all your planned activities and things that need to be done and delegate. There is no reason why you can’t spread out of the tasks and alleviate some of your burden. Also say no to some events, activities, and people when you just feel like staying home or doing nothing.

Self Care is King – Make plans to take care of you. Get a massage, visit a juice bar with a friend (yes even if you have out of town family at home), drink herbal tea and sit by the fire for as long as you want. It is not selfish to take care of yourself!

Go Tech Free– Get off Pinterest and Facebook and stop obsessing over the perfect lives and perfect homes you see represented on the net. Constantly comparing your life to the “highlight reels” you see on social media can make you feel bad about yourself. Also, constant cell phone buzzing, notification chirps, and email alerts keep us in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode due to bursts of adrenaline. This is this exhausting mentally and physically. Put the gadgets away and “just be”.

Add Some Spice – Spicy meals trigger the release of endorphins, the morphine-like compounds that give you a natural high.

Make a few changes and “choose” to be happier…