We’re in the Home Stretch of the Holidays: Ways to Simplify and Reduce Stress this Week for YOU!

Hi friends!

Happy holidays!  As we wrap up this holiday season and head towards the new year, we know this particular week can be one of super stress.  Between running to numerous events for kids and family, work parties and church gatherings, volunteering and on and on and on, we folks with conditions like lipedema absolutely must find time and ways to simplify and reduce stress as much as we can.

Here are a few tips that might help you to enjoy and relax during these last couple of holidays.  We’ve almost made it!

1. Start your day off on the right foot. When you wake up in the morning, be sure to stop and put your compression and quality shoes on before you go, go, go.  This will help you control swelling and keep your feet feeling good.  Having tired and achy feet can really make your whole body feel crummy.
2. Drink lots of water all day.  This will help your swelling and also keep you feeling great for the holiday by avoiding sugary, caffeinated, and other drinks that weigh you down.
3. Help yourself with good sleep hygiene this last two weeks.  Do this by:
   • Getting some sunlight in your eyes in the morning.
   • Have a proper protein loaded breakfast near a window to let the sun in each morning.  This helps set your circadian rhythm and give your a vitamin D boost for energy.  Note that I said protein loaded breakfast too.  Avoiding heavy carb breakfasts during stressful times can keep you on your A game with more consistent blood sugar levels and might keep you from having sugar crash naps.
   • Speaking of napping, try to get some rest without sleeping each day, where you take a few minutes (up to 30) to lay down and read, or meditate, but not sleep.
   • If you need to actually nap, set an alarm for 20-30 minutes so you avoid going into that super deep sleep and then waking up wondering what day it is.  Refresh yourself but don’t overdo it and then walk around dazed and confused later.
4. Stay on top of your multi vitamin and supplements this week.  Take a look at your selenium content (that daily Brazil nut) and magnesium content this week as well.  I actually use a product called CALM, which is basically a magnesium supplement.  It helps with stress for me immensely (PS – talk with your doctor before adding supplements).  Whatever it is you take, don’t skip it this week due to time constraints.  Take that minute and take them.

   

5. Avoid chaos and extra trips to the store by making a to-do and shopping list.  If possible, use delivery services like Instacart or curbside pickup to save yourself the chaos of being in stores full of people with that wandering spirit (the people without lists). This also prevents you from buying one more gift to wrap or food item to prepare.
6. Never waste a trip. This means if you’re in the house and heading to the kitchen, go ahead and grab your dish and take it with you.  If you’re heading to the bedroom, grab shoes and put them away.  Each time you think about what can be carried with you, you’re saving yourself a trip.  Same goes for trips to the store.  working from a list will help you consolidate.  Plan your routes so that you can make a big loop and stop at all the places in one trip instead of making a trip for Walmart, a trip for the produce stand, etc.  Just get it all done in one swoop!
7. Let some stuff slide – prioritize what absolutely has to be done and skip things that are nice to haves. For example, do you really need to scrub the baseboards in the primary bedroom closet for a party?  No, you don’t.  Maybe shut a couple of doors and let some areas just be.  Or do you really need to hand carve an ice sculpture or have a bar featuring ten drinks?  Maybe make one signature drink and serve it from a pitcher.  Simplify, simplify.
8. Simplify decorations – use smaller, even minimalist touches of your holiday spirit throughout the house instead of going crazy and just inundating every square inch of space with decorations.  It’ll still be pretty and will be less to put up in a couple of weeks.  You might even opt for skipping the outdoor lighting and use a wreath, big bows, or one or two statement items in your yard.
9. Allow people to help you – delegate!  If someone is coming over and asks if they can stop for something on the way, say YES.  Let someone else make that last minute run for ice or drinks and avoid yourself having to run out.  If someone wants to bring a dish, LET THEM! Maybe this will give you time to you know, take a shower, or dry your hair instead of always being the one disheveled but with a perfect home and food spread.  When folks offer to clean up or take out trash, let them!  Give yourself time to enjoy parties instead of being the one who waits on everyone else.
10. Simplify wrapping – use gift bags instead of more time-consuming wrapping techniques.  Honestly no one cares and it will be prettier and less mess to clean up at the end.  Don’t let the folks who make homemade everything on social media influence you to overdo it!
11. Discover what foods you can have delivered or premade.  Consider using things like pre-made veggie trays and desserts and fruits like grapes that just need a rinse instead of cutting, and precut cheese slices or cubes instead of cutting them yourself. Or this is crazy, have it catered and dropped off!  I’ve been doing this for the last few graduations in the house and it’s awesome.  You’d be surprised how cost effective it can be too when you add up all your costs.
12. Use disposable plates instead of the good China for individuals this year.  Just use the fancy dishes for serving.  Save yourself some cleanup time.
13. Literally book time on your calendar for rest, MLD, and baths.  Mark that time for self care and protect it fiercely.
14. Set boundaries with your social commitments.  It’s OK to bow out of events a bit early or say no to last minute excursions that people tend to spring on us this time of year.  It.  Is.  OK.

Intentionally set time for moments of relaxation, including time for deep breathing, laying down to prop your feet up and rest without sleeping can really create a more enjoyable last two weeks of the year.  This is a new approach to many of us, who are responsible for making holidays happen, but it’s doable and we deserve it!

Happy Holidays!

Susan

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