The Holidays are coming, whether you want to or not 😉
I know the Holidays can be exhausting. Not only because we usually put a lot of pressure on ourselves to get things done as perfectly as possible, but also because it often means spending large chunks of time with a lot of people. Whether or not you love them to pieces, it can still be draining.
So I figured I would share some of my best tips to help you get through the Holidays with a lot more energy than usual ;-). If you apply these 3 tips then I guarantee you that you will feel much better and will have more energy.
Survival Tip 1: Schedule time for yourself
Especially when you are not used to being surrounded by people all day this is a crucial tip. But even if you think it won’t be much busier than on most days, I recommend you try this. Because it is so easy to get over stimulated by everything that is going on. And especially if you are an introvert or highly sensitive then this is crucial. Being an introvert simply means you recharge by being on your own.
During the day make sure you have some time to yourself. Whether it is to sit on the porch for a breath of fresh air, take a short walk around the block or hide yourself in the attic to read a book or do a mini-meditation. As long as you choose to do something you enjoy.
And if someone insists on joining you on your walk outside, perhaps suggest you walk in silence. It is crucial to have some time to yourself. It allows your system to catch up a little from the constant overload of impressions so you can regroup and be ready for the remainder of the day.
I believe a lack of time on your own is one of the main reasons for big holiday arguments and irritations. If you are over stimulated there is no breathing room and it is so much easier to ‘snap’ when aunt Susie annoys you or when another family member oversteps an invisible boundary.
Survival Tip 2: Immediate energy boost to keep you going
You may reach a point where you notice your energy level starts to drop. Whether that is due to the amount of people surrounding you, the constant chattering, the temperature in the room or the fact that it is getting late at night doesn’t really matter.
This tip works anytime, anywhere. You can even do it while talking to your favourite aunt 😉
Simply place your middle finger and your ring finger against your thumb and do so with both hands. Make sure they are touching but you don’t need to exert pressure. This closes an energetic circuit in your body so the energy starts to recirculate. Sit like this for a few minutes. You may feel a tingling sensation but even if you don’t feel anything it is still working. (The first few times I did this exercise I did not feel anything, except more energy after a few minutes).
Survival Tip 3: Guided visualization to release the day & other people’s emotions
During the day it can be easy to gather emotions and energy from the people around you. Especially when you care for people and when they share things that might be emotional, it is easy to ‘pick up’ some of their energy and to unconsciously carry that with you. Even when you are not aware of it, it can still weigh you down.
You know the feeling when you get into a room and you can feel people just had an argument? That’s what happens in the energy and most of us carry some of that with us, it sticks to us like glue. This exercise will help you release the emotions and energies (good or bad) you picked up during the day. Because these are not your emotions and, therefore, they don’t belong in your system. Chances are you will feel much lighter after this exercise, as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. You will feel a difference in your energy level as well.
Simply click play to start the audio-recording. Make sure you can listen undisturbed.
This is a great way to end you day and ‘wash’ away everything so it is easier to go to sleep as well. Of course you can do it during the day too.
I truly hope you will keep these tips close for the coming Holidays so that you can enjoy them while taking good care of yourself.
Enjoy!
PS If you want more support in making sure you have plenty of time & energy to enjoy this holiday season (and any busy period beyond), then check out my Holiday Survival Kit! You can read all about this online program here
PPS Or get (or gift!) a copy of my book Radiant: How to Have All the Energy You Need to Live a Life You Love.
