The holiday season is in full swing and it’s not always
twinkling lights and hollyberries, is it?
We want to share some simple ideas to help you tame your stress over the next few weeks and they involve your 5 senses:
SMELL Light a candle or plug in your favorite holiday scent to get you in the mood. Smell has been shown to be the most powerful and emotional of all the senses. Some of our favorites can be found here and here. You can also pick up a rollerball of essential oil or perfume that you know will ease your mind when you start to feel the holiday stress creep up on you. Keep it nearby and roll away the worries - here is our fave essential aroma, it also works well on headaches!
SOUND Turn up the music and get in the Christmas spirit! There are so many options to choose from - on your TV through the music channel, Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora and more! Here’s a great playlist from Spotify to put you in a festive mood! Add a jingle bell to your front door and let it remind you of the festive feelings that make the holidays so special, especially when your loved ones make it jingle as they walk through that door.
TOUCH If you’re lucky enough to have snow nearby, grab some and toss a few snowballs or better yet, make a snow angel! It doesn’t matter how old you are - it will make you feel like a kid again and what better way to relax than playing in the soft, white clouds of winter. Another way to relax by touch is to make homemade ornaments like these - feel the dough as you have fun with some holiday cookie cutters and your imagination. Don’t live near snow? Head to the beach and use those same cookie cutters in the sand to build pretend ornaments.
SIGHT Bundle up with a blanket and some popcorn and drive through the brightly lit-up neighborhoods in your town to enjoy the holiday lights. Find a family member or friend who has a child in school and go WATCH their holiday performance - there’s nothing sweeter than a roomful of little ones singing and acting out Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer! Another great option: whip up mugs of hot cocoa, settle in with the family and enjoy a movie like The Christmas Chronicles that will be sure to give you all the holiday feels!
TASTE Peppermint, egg nog, gingerbread - there are so many forms of these holiday favorites to taste, whether in its original form like a peppermint candy cane or in something as simple and relaxing as a cup of gingerbread-flavored tea or eggnog latte. Take a few minutes to really savor the flavor and let it ease you into the holiday mood!