Take a breath this Christmas....

Try one of the below methods to help create calm in your day....to take you from "fight or flight" to "rest and digest".

Christmas can be tough for many; and with so much to do from prep to post - can be one of the most challenging times of the year.  Why not try something from the list below and see if this Christmas you can find some calm?

We as women 40 and over need to be very aware of our health maneuvering through and past menopause.  We need to think of our heart health and brain health amongst other things.  So if not for your sanity.......then do this for your heart, brain, soul:

1. Move: For protecting the brain and potentially reversing the effects of stress, look to exercise, I can't stress (sorry ...) the importance of this. Don't like it? Find something that is doable for you.  While you may not ever love exercise, you'll much prefer the feeling of having done it vs. the ramifications that come with not over the years.    (Stranahan & Mattson 2012; Rothman & Mattson 2012)
2. Flow: try yoga - from going through the Asanas (poses) to breathing deeply throughout and finishing with Savasana (meditation), the benefits of yoga are endless, reducing perceived stress.  And knowing we as women need to keep our brain healthy and heart happy; keeping stress to a minimum is crucial.  Yoga is also one of the best things we can do for the health of our spine and our soul.  Yoga doesn't have to be difficult .... the whole idea of it is to have it be easy and joyful. Literally.  So find a way that will help you move and breathe with joy - for your health and for calm over the holidays.
3. Chill.  How you relax is most likely completely different to your bestie.  Some people find being active (biking, running, swimming, dancing) is their way to relax; others - a more serene, quiet activity like reading, meditation, listening to music is their jam.  It doesn't matter WHAT the relaxation method is....it matters that you DO it.  Regularly.
4. Fuel.  Eat less processed foods. Period.  Eat less sugar.  And....try to get more veggies/ plant based nutrition.  From helping reduce insulin resistance to reducing inflammation - basically doing all you can to reduce stress or any risk factors associated with it, now is the time to re-think how and what you are eating.

Remember; it doesn't have to be rocket science.   No need to over-think things...just trying to focus on these four things over the holidays will help you come through the other side sparkling.