By Schuyler Corrigan

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December 12, 2022

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Do your best to prioritize sleep throughout the week. Maintain your bedtime whenever possible, and aim for at least 7 hours of sleep each night to support your nervous system, immune function, and enhance digestion. 

 

Start your day with a nourishing breakfast. If your afternoons and evenings tend to lack fruits and veggies, get these in FIRST THING so you can at least rely on 2-4 servings first and foremost.  If you’re crunched for time in the mornings, batch prep some breakfast options so you don’t skip them. This can look like a veggie frittata, overnight oats with 2-4 types of fruits included, or veggie-based smoothies.

 

Opt for herbal teas most nights of the week. The holiday season brings lots of opportunities for gatherings, and if you find yourself imbibing in alcohol more than twice a week, bring tea sachets with you for dinners, or enjoy a mug of warm tea while prepping dinner at home to reduce your alcohol intake these next few weeks. Try chamomile, holy basil, ginger, or mint teas for a soothing, calming, warming, and grounding experience. 

 

Continue to take afternoon walks. As the days get colder, these daily walks help acclimate our body to the changing season, gradually introducing us to colder weather so the shift is not so abrupt on our immune system. 

 

Read More: 4 Ways You Can Redirect How Stress Impacts Your Body

 

Maintain your boundaries if your calendar is filling up. It’s always OK to not-commit to an engagement immediately. Check your weekly or monthly calendar before adding one more thing to make sure you feel like you can reasonably commit your time to extra things that will not bring you unnecessary stress.

 

Batch-prep some soups to keep in the freezer. Colds and flu are still going around this season, and having nourishing, already-made soups for when you or a family member falls ill can be a lifesaver. We love Chicken Veggie soup and Butternut Squash soups. 

 

Read More: Healthy Holiday Recipe Round-Up

 

Switch off your devices. We know that many people use their phones and iPads at night to “wind down,” especially after kids go to bed to have some “me time.” Take notice if what you’re doing on your devices in the evening is actually relaxing (ie, scrolling through social media, reading or watching the news, engaging in online arguments, etc). A lot of our online behavior is quite stimulating and not supportive of relaxing our nervous system before going to bed. Instead, try listening to an audiobook, reading, journaling, or sketching to relax and calm your mind.