Simple Self-Care During the Holidays
10 simple things that help you get centered and care for your mind and body during the craziness of the holidays.
Drink water and hydrating decaffeinated teas throughout your day. Minimize bubbly beverages.
Periodically take three-minute breaks to notice how you are feeling, consciously relax, breathe, and be still. Notice where you are holding excess tension, and relax those places. Do this at your desk, in line at a store, in the middle of house projects, anytime.
Take a warm bath. Add a couple tablespoons of an oil (like coconut oil) and a drop or two of essential oil.
Change up your positions when you sit.
If you're avoiding something that will make you feel better when it is done, do it.
Get outside in nature.
Play music you love or find new music to love on Spotify.
Close your eyes and slowly roll your eyeballs in one direction 5-10 times behind closed lids. Then roll in the opposite direction.
Groove to a YouTube dance video tutorial.
Get off your phone and computer at least half an hour before bedtime. Do not look at your phone first thing in the morning. Breathe slowly for 5-10 cycles, consciously stretch, and then rise. This takes less than five minutes.
Let periods of rest be an act of rebellion. Per the season, may we control what is in our control and create light in places of darkness.
About The Author
Gwen Yeager is an LA-based yoga expert who loves helping people deepen their practice in practical ways that work with real-life (she’s also a cancer survivor and mother of twins). She provides her students with resources to incorporate healthy movement, breathwork, and mindfulness into every nook and cranny of living. While her teaching style is down-to-earth and approachable — she’s a stickler about the science movement and proper anatomical alignment because nothing is more important than long-term mobility and a vibrant quality of life!
