‘Tis the Season

It’s that time of year again. Feeling blue and lacking green? We get it.

Blown budgets, busted diets, and the relentless expectations of the holiday season can crack down on even the fiercest of optimists. Those Arctic wind body blows and that case of the sniffles don’t help much either. Sound Off™ has your back. Put these holiday hacks to the test for a stress-free season that’s merry and bright.

Unplug

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a minute…including you.” — Anne Lamott

Would you believe it if we told you there was a time when humans roamed the earth without WIFI? Oh yes, it’s true. Once upon a time, we watched more sunrises than Netflix. Our species did quite well without social media for centuries. Quit obsessing over the abs of strangers and cyber-stalking your ex. Offline is the new luxury. Can you afford to put the phone down this holiday season? Does connecting with family and friends in real life, sleeping better, and curbing stress sound good? Read a book, build a gingerbread house with your niece, journal, or hit the gym. All the likes, comments, emails, and updates will be there the second you pick it back up. We promise.

Get On the Mat

We sing the praises of yoga without shame. Bestowing increased immunity and better posture to better breathing and reduced stress, yoga does the body good. To combat holiday stress and anxiety, we recommend three poses in particular. Disclaimer: Always be gentle with yourself and check with your doctor before you start. The Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) zaps tension in your hips and balances your sacral chakra — our relationship center. It’s in-law season. We need all the help we can get.The Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) engages the heart chakra, stimulates digestion (ie. that third slice of pie) and rejuvenates tired legs. The Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) relieves headaches, regulates blood flow, and subdues insomnia.

Lather. Visualize. Rinse. Repeat

We know some things take a back seat this season but we have faith that your daily dip in the shower isn’t one of them. Kill two birds with one stone with a meditative power shower. Here’s how you do it. Lather up as usual. While you rinse, visualize the water sending all fear, anger, sadness, doubt, anxiety, loneliness, and regret swirling down the drain. Kill a third bird by hanging a bundle of fresh eucalyptus from the shower head for a mood-boosting aromatherapy session. The water’s heat and steam will activate the plant’s essential oils and unleash a minty scent while even clearing congestion.

Take that seasonal stress! Thank us later.