So sorry I missed contributing to the last newsletter with the Wellness Column but life took over. We moved our home (we are still in the Stevenson School District, yeah!) and all of my boys came down with a very bad cold that included double ear infections for my husband.

Now there is a reason I am telling you all of this. This month’s column is dedicated to destressing your holiday season. At the end of the column I will also include my “Tip from your Trainer”.

I was stressed over our move but didn’t get sick, knock on wood while I am throwing salt over my left shoulder. I took care of my family and myself. NOTE: I took care of myself. As caregivers the first thing that tends to go is the “Taking care of myself” part of that statement. Just like the stewards and stewardesses tell us on airplanes, “Put the mask over your mouth first, then any dependents traveling with you.”

As we travel through the busy holiday season we tend to forget what is best for ourselves. We are making sure our kids, our spouses or our extended families are happy and THEN we take into consideration our needs. We know what we would like to do but more often than not we do what we feel we should do.

Well, if the main caregiver in the family is happy, everyone tends to be happy. So I am here to remind you to DESTRESS this holiday season. Say no more often. Do the things that are important to you. Eat well, drink your water and during the course of your week, do one thing for yourself. Whether it’s getting your nails done, playing 18 holes of golf instead of 9 this week, volunteering at your kid’s school or a soup kitchen, or taking ten minutes to have a cup of tea and flip through a magazine, do something that will make you feel good.

Every holiday I try to make sure I stay on track while cramming all of the extra things into my schedule. As my kids are getting older, I am more conscious of time ticking away. I try to slow down and really enjoy my kids and my time with them.
Believe it or not, I also find that if I do something for others, I feel darn good. So as your wellness advisor, I am here to give you a gentle reminder to be good to yourself this holiday season, while you are being good to others!

Trainer Tip:

Remember to stretch even if you are doing the most mundane things like gardening or cleaning your house. Here is a simple one to add to your repertoire. Gently and slowly bend over and let your arms dangle in front of you while you exhale through your mouth. Make sure you have a slight bend at the knees and don’t worry if you don’t touch the ground. Just go as far as you can. Keep breathing in and out nice and slowly. Slowly stand up straight and imagine your spine unfolding little by little. Stand near a chair or wall just in case you get dizzy. Not only are you stretching out your spine, hamstrings and arm muscles but also you are breathing deeply. You are giving your body much needed oxygen.

Always be gentle with your body while you are exercising or stretching and remember to check with your doctor before starting any rigorous exercise routine.

We all have the best intentions of exercising and eating right. Don’t overload yourself during this busy holiday season. I will challenge you to do two things for yourself this season. Drink your water and if you can’t exercise, watch your caloric intake and do the simple stretch outlined above at least twice a day. Losing weight and staying healthy is really a simple calculation of calories in vs. energy out. Try not to take more calories in than you can expend in a single day.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to enjoy yourself, your friends and your family.

LeeAnne Matusek, Wellness Committee