Five Ways to Nourish Body & Mind During the Holidays

The holidays are a wonderfully busy time of year for many of us. This means that giving our attention to how we take care of ourselves through self-care rituals, mindfulness practices, and nourishment through nutrition is incredibly important. Below are five lovely ways to support yourself and others this winter. 

#1: Consider a DIY Gift for Friends, Family, or Coworkers

Making your own gifts during the holidays can be very nourishing. You could spend a quiet afternoon crafting something beautiful, or even invite some friends over to join in the fun. It’s also a way to share your interests with those you care about and even save a little money.

Do you have a certain type of cookie you love? Try making one of those beautiful mason jars with layers of ingredients and a little homemade sign with baking instructions. Have you been telling your friends all about how amazing beeswax wraps are? Try making your own and tying them up with a piece of twine or gold ribbon. Love taking baths? How about a mason jar filled with lavender bath salts. The soft glow of candles is always so comforting this time of year. How about making your own? I once harvested some pinyon pine resin from trees in the forest where I lived to add to the candles. So many options!

#2: Be Mindful of Your Sugar Indulgences

It’s SO easy to overdo sugar during the holidays!

Eating a lot of sugar can also have consequences beyond just the jittery feelings and weight gain. Blood sugar dysregulation can also wreak havoc on our adrenal glands and ability to manage stress.

When we eat sugar, our pancreas releases insulin to shuttle the glucose into our cells. If we consume a lot of sugar then we might overcompensate by shuttling too much glucose into our cells, which causes our blood sugar to drop – hence sugar crash! So then our adrenals have to get involved to bring our blood sugar back up, often by releasing the stress hormone cortisol or epinephrine (reactive hypoglycemia). The blood sugar rollercoaster! This can lead to adrenal fatigue which can impact mood, energy, sleep, and digestion. Just a few more reasons to be mindful of our sugar intake during this bustling time of year.  

All types of sugar are not created equally, if possible avoid refined and processed sugars. Opt instead for maple syrup, honey, molasses, agave, or coconut sugar. You can usually swap out any of these choices for white or brown sugar in a recipe.

#3: Intentionally Seek Out Quiet

You know, a quiet space. A space void of holiday music, giggling, movies, chatter, cooking, and eating. And most importantly: void of screens.

Being in a quiet space is a wonderful way to let your nervous system relax and gently enter into the parasympathetic mode.

This can be a bit tricky during the holidays, as there are often more opportunities to engage with loved ones. Of course, you don’t want to offend someone by just disappearing into the basement of your family’s home for hours on end. At the same time, it’s also a way to recognize that you are taking care of yourself. By taking care of yourself you are also taking care of others.

So find a quiet space every day to just be you. Connect with the present moment by engaging your senses and dropping into your body. Go for a walk without headphones and listen to the birds, enjoy a cup of morning tea, lay in the grass outside and watch the clouds, induldge in a long hot bath, stretch, practice yoga, or sit 10 minutes of meditation. 

Pause and notice how you feel after – this can be your encouragement to continue a mindful practice such as this each day.

#4: Continue Your Self-Care Rituals While Traveling

What are your go-to self-care items that you use every week? Bring them with you when you travel! This is not a time to let go of your routine of taking care of yourself. In fact, bringing them with you and displaying them in your space, can serve as a gentle reminder to continue your commitment to self-care each day.

Some of my travel necessities are: immune system tincture, small beeswax candle, lavender eye pillow, adaptogen herb blend, raw honey (quality sweeteners only please!), dried rose buds, mala, inflatable zafu (meditation cushion), essential oils, crystals, green tea, supplements, greens powder, sweetish bitters (for digestion support), trace mineral drops (for hydration and mineral support), journal, and any other objects that remind me of my practice. If possible, pack some of your favorite healthy food and snack options so you’re not too tempted by all the sweet treats around. 

Sticking to your self-care and eating routine that works for your body is incredibly important during the holidays! It also helps to keep us grounded, while reaffirming our intention to take care of body and mind.  

#5: Give Mindful Attention to Small Details

There is a lot of buildup around the holidays and then suddenly, it’s over. Giving your attention to small details is a way to root into the present moment; and fully feel and honor the relationships you hold dear. 

These mindful moments are often found where you least expect them. Begin with forming an intention to make an effort to seek nourishing connection.

For example, if you are with family that lives out of town and you would like to spend time together, consider the ordinary. Keep it simple. Make a plan to wake up early with your sibling, craft a matcha latte, and chat on the couch for an hour before everyone else is up.

Or perhaps you would like to continue a conversation you had during dinner. Bundle up and head out for an evening walk. Walking at night can have a calming effect. Our visual field is more limited, and thus less stimulating – a great contrast to screen time! Also the streets are often more quiet, lights twinkle from rooftops, and some gentle movement is beneficial for our bodyminds to process busy days and also support digestion. A total win.

Another idea is to include a thoughtful card with your (DIY!) gift. It’s a wonderful time of year to express your feelings for those you care about. This is a practice for you too – as it requires that you pause, feel into your relationship, and then express your emotions in written word. Try bringing a box of cards to your neighborhood coffee shop and spend a morning writing notes to loved ones.

Our life experience is a series of small moments. By intentionally giving attention to these moments, we relocate our bodyminds into the present; feel into the fullness of our relationships; and ultimately experience a sense of completeness and gratitude.  

I would love to hear about your experience of taking care during the holidays in the comments! Perhaps a self-care routine that you found to be supportive, or even about your difficulty finding a way to stay grounded and connected. These are all meant to be suggestions, not “shoulds!” Gentle Leaps my friends.