Press Pause
Tis the season to be jolly, however, it tends to be the season everyone is stressed out. With all the shopping, baking, family, travel, kids school work, and work to be done we tend to activate our stress response and get stuck in overdrive. We’re all busy and we don’t pay enough attention to how we are feeling. Sometimes we need to PRESS PAUSE. We often get sucked up in our to-do list and need to feel and honor our basic impulses. When you’re tired, sleep, and when you’re hungry, eat.
To help, set an alarm or get in a habit of every couple hours to stop what you are doing and take a 5 minute break. You can stretch, drink some water, walk around, or take some deep breaths. It’s also good to take a few minutes in the mornings and evenings to check in with yourself and meditate on your day.
Another thing you need to make sure you do is get enough sleep! Start noticing when you naturally feel tired and when you actually go to bed. Try to do as much as possible to harmonize you sleep/wake cycle with the day’s natural rhythm. As an adult you need to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Children usually need a little more.
So even during this busy stressful holiday season, try to pay attention to your own body. Don’t let your stresses, anxieties, and worries take over your mind and body, push pause, and recalibrate your mindset. Try to surround yourself with people you love and find ways to relax: whether it’s a dance party, going for a walk, or just meditating on the day.
-Sarah Caudle, PA-C
