Reform Your Holidays
Live this holiday season as wholly (and holy) as possible
Love, joy, and family gatherings...intertwined with difficult emotions, spoken or unspoken expectations, and hidden pressures: the holiday season wraps it all in one package. As we enjoy the sweet holiday treats that come but once a year, let’s also be mindful of using food, drinks, or spending as ways to manage stress and anxiety. What if we took the focus off food, drinks, and gifts? What if we reinstated the true meaning of Christmas, this holiday we do so much to prepare for?
This Advent, let’s implement tools to help us keep our focus on God and prepare for His arrival. Let’s be intentional about how we spend our time, energy, and resources, and make decisions with Him at the center.
To help you live this holiday season as wholly (and holy) as possible, we’ve created a Holiday Stress Management Toolkit. At Reform, we define health as the state of body and soul. Any stress—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—affects your health. The tools we’re about to share with you cover all 9 of Reform’s health pillars, and they will help you to thrive, not just survive, through the holidays.
Our hope is to empower you to become the best version of yourself, and to give you the tools to reconnect with your body and your beliefs. As always, the present moment offers all of the opportunity for reformation you need. Embrace it, adjust it if necessary, and keep rollin’!
Your Holiday Toolkit
Nutrition:
Get Clear on Why You're Eating: H.A.L.T! Are you truly hungry? Or are you angry, tired, or lonely? Remember, we eat to fuel our bodies. That means each time we eat it should be to support a healthy gut, a healthy psychological response, a healthy immune system, and a healthy waistline. We encourage you to eat to support your healing and goals.
Bring Health to Your Holiday: Try new healthy recipes or reinvent old ones with healthier ingredients, with your goals and healing in mind. Holiday parties are a perfect opportunity to make and introduce a new dish for yourself and others. Opt for festive mocktails over cocktails to support looking and feeling your best. Sparkling water in a wine glass will make you sparkle the same way ;)
Awareness, Intention & Permission: Go ahead, indulge in your holiday favorites as a special treat...and please don’t beat yourself up over what you may indulge in. Remember, there is no guilt, only consequences for your decisions. Increase your awareness of the present state, check the intention behind your desire, and give yourself permission to indulge or withhold. Ask yourself: is it worth it? Will this serve me? What’s the cost of this decision?
Sleep:
Start Early, End Early: Did you know that every hour of sleep you get before midnight is the equivalent of two full hours? It’s like a two-for-one deal—the best deal of the season, in our opinion! As often as possible, aim to be asleep by 10pm. Keeping your bedtime routine consistent by winding down an hour before will allow you to do so. This will help you to wake up energized, make the most of your days, sleep peacefully at night...and make deposits for late nights under the mistletoe.
Simmer Down on the Stimulants: Caffeine and alcohol are stimulants that can increase adrenaline and interfere with a good night’s rest. It’s best to ditch caffeine after noon and limit alcohol intake, especially before bed. Chances are you’re stimulated enough as it is this season!
Cut the Lights: Reduce blue light exposure (from your phone, computer, and other screens) at least one hour before bedtime. This light tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime and prevents good sleep. Cutting out blue light at night will open up opportunities for you to rest and digest your day, week, and...life!
Stress Management:
Set Boundaries: Practice being intentional about everything you say yes and no to. “No.” is a complete sentence. No explanation is necessary. Be careful not to overcommit to too many parties, celebrations or nights out. Let’s implement JOMO (joy of missing out) instead of FOMO (fear of missing out).
Be Present: In times of stress or overwhelm, use your five senses to reground yourself and recalibrate to the present moment. Where are you? Here. What time is it? Now. What are you doing? This. Open your eyes to what’s around you; inhale, exhale (never forget to breathe!). Reminder: you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Control the Things You Can: Create a plan and foster consistency over the things you can control, and let go of the rest. Our brains like a plan, especially under stress. Having a predictable routine (for meals, sleep, work, etc.) can help offset unexpected stress.
Functional Movement:
Get Out, Get Moving: Try that annual outdoor ice skating rink or go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood to enjoy the Christmas decorations. ‘Tis the season to find fun new ways to move!
Dance, Dance: Blast those holiday tunes—or any of your favorites. You’re still all Mariah Carey wants for Christmas! :) Movement does not have to mean sweating, torturous, forced activity: dancing is functional movement, too!
Keep It Cozy: Ditch vigorous exercise routines during the busy days and late nights. Instead, opt for restorative movement like walking or stretching, so as not to over-tax a body that is already stressed. Exercise, while good for us, can be a stress for the body if the body doesn’t have the energy to support that output. SoulCore and ROMWOD are some of our favorite tools to stretch in the comfort of our homes (and sometimes even in pajamas!)
Faith:
The Reason for the Season: Did you know that “Eucharist” means “Thanksgiving”? Begin or end your week, days, or celebrations with Mass to give thanks to God above all. We must seek first the kingdom of God.
Pray: Carve out time every day to pray and rest in the Lord. As the saying goes, “everyone needs half an hour of prayer every day...except when we are busy, then we need an hour.” If your schedule is really busy (or even if it’s not) schedule time to rest and recalibrate. We must keep God at the center...after all, we can’t do much without Him.
Offer It Up! If you encounter any frustrations with family or friends, turn them into prayer: offer them up for an intention. “Lord, accept my suffering for my friend who is sick for a speedy recovery….” “Lord, give me patience to endure this challenging family member and offer it up for someone in need…”
Community:
Connect: We are meant to be together and all share the same desire to be seen, heard and known. As you gather around the table, remember to pay attention to those around you—not just what is (or isn’t!) on your plate. Open up and look for opportunities to connect with others. We thrive on a sense of belonging. Who needs some TLC this year?
Your Presence is Requested: When it comes to presents, the greatest gift you can give is your presence (hint: ditch your phone and look up!). God Himself came to us present as a human person, Jesus. So be present and engaged with whomever you are with at each moment. In doing so, you invite others to do the same...especially the kiddos around you watching your every move. Let’s be the change.
With a Little Help From Your Friends: Ask for support. Life will derail you with things that are beyond your control. When you need it, ask for help and support. You don’t have to do it all on your own. If you’re blessed enough to not need support this year, we invite you to gift your support to others!
Space:
Stop, Drop, and Roll: Intentionally set aside time to reflect, unwind, and reset—or what we like to call the “stop, drop, and roll.” Literally stop what you’re doing, drop the thought, and roll into a new environment when you need some space. This works with almost any situation: an argument, emotional eating, etc. Stop it, drop it (the conversation, the cookie, etc.), and roll out. Once you’re aware that you want to stop, you can always make the choice to do so.
Time and a Half: Give yourself more time than you need. Factoring time and a half will force you to slow down and allow for the unexpected traffic jam or gas stop—or quiet moment you’ve been craving. Rushing leads to stress, frustration, bad moods, saying what you don’t mean, etc. Give yourself space in your schedule.
Find Solitude: Step into nature. Go for a hike. Watch the snow fall. Inhale and exhale the great outdoors. Make space for time with God in Adoration. Receive silence, prayer, and spiritual nourishment in one.
Personal Growth:
Lead with Ownership: Take ownership of your health, lifestyle and choices. Follow your protocols with confidence and grace—and watch as you inspire others to follow your lead. Healthy, happy and holy are worth it.
Begin with the End in Mind: What do you want to look and feel like on Christmas morning? The steps you take and the decisions you make now will help you get there. When it comes to your health and well-being, you can make deposits into your bank account—and limit withdrawals physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Stay in Your Own Lane: Ignore others’ comments, judgments, and unwelcome feedback. There are three people’s business in this world: yours, Gods and everyone else’s. Remember: comparison is the thief of joy...there is only one you!
Play:
Be Childlike!: Go outside and play in the snow or cold (snowball fight, anyone?). Or stay indoors and play board games with loved ones. You’re never too old to play and it’s essential for our well-being!
The Creative Adult is the Child Who Survived: Do something creative, like making cards, decorating your favorite Christmas cookies, or crafts for your loved ones. No need to be an expert artist—it’s the thought that counts!
Sing a Song: Sing your heart out. Go Christmas caroling and get into the joy of the season. Fa la la la laaaa!
These tools are a compilation of the best practices that we and our clients try to implement for our healthiest lives. We’ve shared a lot, so take the ones you need most (to our fellow type A’s: don’t stress yourself out trying to do them all!). Remember: your health is like a bank account, and the choices you make either add or withdraw from your account. The care you take in balancing your account now, before and during the holidays, affects how you come into the holidays and the new year.
With God as your foundation and these tools at your disposal, you can offer the gift of your presence this Christmas. You have everything you need to live this season to the fullest. Here’s to health, wholeness, and meeting your God-given potential!