Maintaining Your Sanity and energy

By Ashley Inglese t’s the holidays...during a pandemic! I Even though the holidays are a welcomed happy distraction from all the stressors going on in the world, they tend to be a stressful time in and of themselves. Let’s talk about some ideas on how to stay healthy during this time. No, we aren’t focused on your weight and we wanted to give you a few applicable tips to manage your overall physical, mental, and emotional health and wellness during this time. There are a few {albeit great tips} that we hear each year like drinking half your body weight in ounces of water (for example, if I weight 140 pounds, I drink 70 ounces of water), get enough sleep, limit wine and sugar (yeah right), move your body at least 30 minutes a day, and eat lots of fruits and veggies. Here are just a few attainable strategies to maintaining your sanity and energy through the PAND-olidays of 2020: 1. You are the sum of the 5 people you surround yourself with. This includes social media! Control your FOMO, comparison, and anxiety by limiting your media and social media consumption as well as making sure that the accounts you follow infuse your day with messages that make you feel good about yourself. If certain accounts make you feel anxious or unworthy, do yourself a favor and unfollow! 2. Give up one thing that doesn’t bring you joy. A few years ago I released myself of sending Christmas cards. I love getting them in the mail but, for me, it was a major stressor picking the best photo, shelling out money to order cards, updating mailing addresses, purchasing stamps, and mailing. And God forbid you forget your second Aunt Mary. After letting go of a task that didn’t bring me joy I feel huge relief. What’s that thing you’ve always done that doesn’t serve you anymore {or maybe never did}? Let it go, Elsa!

3. Rather than focusing on “healthy” foods, or foods that are “good” or “bad”

try focusing on foods that bless your body. Before eating that thing, ask yourself how you will feel afterwards. Will this fuel you and give you energy or will it make you feel tired and sluggish? Does this food have nutrients in it that will help you to feel strong throughout the day?

4. Get dressed and put your shoes on! Even if you are working from home, you are much more likely to take a quick brain break by going for a walk

if you already have shoes on!

5. Move your body intuitively in a way that feels good for you that day.

If you don’t feel like lifting weights and prefer to go for a long walk with a friend instead, do that. Having a routine and schedule is great but it’s okay to listen to your body and move intuitively instead. Remember, the endorphin release you get from exercise is great for mental and emotional health so whether that’s sitting in a HOTWORX sauna by yourself for 30 minutes or getting outside in nature, it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you feel better afterwards - and you 100% will!