Fall is a season of change. If the weeks leading to the holidays leave you feeling more exhausted than joyful, it might be time to rethink your approach. Cooking, cleaning, decorating and gift-giving are likely at the top of your to-do list. This year, use these tips to put wellness first, avoid holiday burnout, and spend more time enjoying special days with your loved ones.
Practice gratitude — it’s good for your health.
Practicing gratitude for 15 minutes a day, five days a week can have a positive effect on your sleep quality, immunity and heart health. Keep a journal with the positive things that happen daily or weekly. Send thank-you texts or handwritten notes. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
Stick with simple recipes and create a balanced menu.
Bookmark the viral recipe you’ve been eyeing — and save it for another occasion. Lean on easy recipes that let you spend more time with your loved ones and less time in the kitchen. Try these showstopping, delicious recipes to cover a variety of wholesome meal options:
Make time for mindfulness and mental health.
The holidays can be an emotional time for many of us. The stress of the season can contribute to loneliness, depression and anxiety, so it’s important to take care of your mental health. If you need some extra support this season, you can find an in-network behavioral health provider to help you through a tough time.
The Calm Health app is another great no-cost tool to try. With meditations to keep you grounded, soothing sounds and music to work by, Sleep Stories to ease your nighttime routine, psychologist-designed clinical programs to help you tackle tough challenges, and mental health guidance to put your goals within reach, Calm Health is here to help you feel better — one step at a time.
Get a head start on your New Year’s resolutions.
When you have a break from the festivities, revisit your wellness goals while gratitude and positivity are fresh in your mind. Consider what’s worked for you this year and what you’d like to improve. By the time midnight strikes on January 1, you’ll be ready to start the year with focus and intention without feeling rushed.