HOLIDAY WELLBEING, IS THAT ACHIEVABLE?
Me balancing my usual grandmotherly existence with the festive season.
DECEMBER 2024 newsletteR
One more week to go folks, did everyone prepare themselves properly last month?
To me Christmas holidays used to mean, burning candles and snuggling up in the dark and cold winter in Finland. It also involved several traditions, running from one overflowing breakfast, lunch, and dinner table to the next. As much as I love my family and traditions, I do have to admit that I am mildly relieved to spend Christmas without stress and timetables and the best part is the warm sun of New Zealand. The tradition that has stayed is a morning walk (used to be a run) and sauna. That will certainly evoke a healthy appetite and get me ready for an energized Christmas. Instead of aiming to have food in at least 3 different households in 1 day and continue that rally for 3 days, I now enjoy a relaxed Christmas at home, with the cats obviously, but also some good human friends made in my journey here in New Zealand. That, my friends, suits me and my nervous system 1000% better and lets me recharge my batteries super well for the new year! I am always happy to hear your stories of your traditions, and together we can try to make them less stressful if that’s the case for you.
Right, let’s think about the “problems” of the festive season. Stress, busyness, schedules, people pleasing, treats, overeating, drinking (whether sugary drinks or alcohol), lack of sleep/rest, lack of routine, it’s funny how the resting period at the end of the year often turns out to be the complete opposite! I hope everyone worked on their wellbeing thresholds for the past month so this holiday season will be a bit easier. We all know that none of the holiday season “problems” aren’t really problems if it is just for one evening or even a couple, it’s the build-up of things, with an explanation “I’m on holiday”.
The holiday season challenge is to once again, mark down your goals and make plans that allow you to rest and exercise. Be at home or go camping, whatever makes it possible for you just to be not to do. Agree with a friend to go for a walk in the mornings or afternoons. Prepare healthier treats so you can enjoy them and not go crazy with guilt. Learn how to say NO, if you want to rest you can’t say yes to every plan and event. If you know saying no, is hard for you, fake it till you make it, and think beforehand what’s your reason not to attend so you don’t say yes in panic. Turn off your phone and try to manage a few days without social media, emails, messages, and other distractions. If none of the above isn’t enough for you, get a cat and follow their lead for a peaceful, stress-free, and guilt-free way of living, haha. Animals in general are always the best teachers, they sleep when they are tired, eat when they are hungry, and play for the rest of the time, basically what the holiday season should be all about. Whatever you do own your actions and move on! There’s no point in ruminating about what happened yesterday, it’s done, and you can’t affect it anymore. This is why you made your goals for the season so you can easily overcome overkill and be back on track for your optimal wellbeing.
For New Year, make realistic promises for yourself. If you don’t do any exercise atm, don’t set the goal to 5-6times a week of hardcore gym and runs, instead gardening daily combined with stretching, a few bike rides a week, or 15-30mins walks daily, that sort of thing is a start, and foundation to build on. On the other hand, if you are one of those crazy people who already run, and pump iron like crazy, it would be a good time to add mobility training and calming meditation into your routine.
This week is fully booked, and then I’ll be off for 2 weeks, relaxing. January 6th Henkiwellbeing is open again so go a head make your booking nice and early so you have something to look forward to.
Enjoy your holidays everyone, and see you in 2025!
Love
Kaisa❤️🐾
Balance the meditating in sunshine and playing with Christmas decorations :)
