Tip #3: The importance of Self-Care
We all know we should take better care of ourselves throughout the Holidays, but with most of our non-work time being allotted to social engagements of the Season, it’s difficult to truly take care of ourselves in the ways that are best for our bodies. Dehydration, poor diet and lack of sleep can set up our bodies to host foreign invaders, such as the cold and flu virus. It’s no surprise that cold and flu season correlates to the Holidays. We eat more than we should because it’s social, our diet is high in refined sugar and fat because it tastes “good”, and we drink more alcohol because, hey, we’re more fun at a party and less stressed when we do!
Key areas to focus on for self-care during the Holidays:
Keep hydrated! Our bodies are nearly 70% water – not 70% coffee, juice, tea, soda or alcohol. Water keeps your energy up, your brain functioning optimally, and muscles loose (they actually stick together when you’re dehydrated – think Beef Jerky!) Many experts recommend half of your body weight in ounces as a baseline. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, your baseline daily water intake should be 75 ounces. If you are in Arizona over the summer and are losing all of your water and electrolytes through sweat, you should replenish and add an additional 8-16 ounces daily.
Get Sleep! All of our body systems reset themselves and regenerate overnight. When we sleep fewer hours we disrupt this process and our functioning the following day suffers. Many companies have end of year deadlines for sales or project close-out, so it’s very common to work more hours in December which requires extra sleep to function for longer periods of time during the work day. Sadly we sleep less during the Holidays and this sets us up for more stress and also illness – it’s a viscous cycle.
Eat well! You know you are going to have a few more cookies and cakes than you normally would during other times of the year, so try to balance it out with healthful dinners during the week or green juices in the morning. Protein and veggies don’t have to be boring. Search Pinterest for some great spice combinations that you can make yourself or hit up the spice aisle at your grocery store to season chicken, fish, beef or pork, and season veggies with pink himalayan salt and freshly ground pepper.
Our favorite: Get a Massage! What better way to take care of yourself and de-stress than to have a quiet, relaxing hour to yourself while getting your muscles loosened with the hands of a talented massage therapist? December is one of our busiest months at the office. Our clients say that it feels good to take a break from the chaos of work and daily life, and that they are able to go back out and conquer what December has in store for them after they get off the table. Massage shouldn’t be a luxury – it is a vital part of body maintenance to manage stress, treat pain and improve circulation and lymphatic flow (for immunity). For optimum health we recommend wellness massages (check out our Customized Therapy) every three months. For pain relief, we recommend a series of either Neuromuscular Therapy or Myofascial Release Therapy depending on the type of pain, until your pain has resolved.
Because we care about you and your health, our final gift to you is a bonus promotion of 10% off (one) 30 or 60 minute session. Promo Code: Bonus10 To receive the discount, use this code online to purchase a gift certificate for someone who needs to de-stress, or show this blog post at checkout at your next appointment.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you and make a difference in your life. We are honored.