Is It Too Late To Take Care of Yourself? (AND some news at the end you will not want to miss!)

I hope this isn’t reaching you after this season of holiday preparations already has you in a place of overspent (financially, emotionally), unwell (due to stress, too much commotion, or the seasonal weather and exposures), or otherwise regretting this whole time of year. In my own case, well, yes, there is definitely regret that I didn’t get this to you in time to perhaps help prevent ALL of that, but some family urgencies delayed my elaborate intentions. But fear not, wherever you be in the continuum right now, from loving-it-all, to okay-but-on-the-edge, to can’t-wait-until-it’s-all-over, I hope the following tips for gifting yourself and others in the most nurturing ways ever will help!

-Take that meditation break. And I don’t mean it needs to be a particular form that others deem “meditation.” Here are some 5 minute miracles:

This could be just intentional, deep breathing for a mere 5 minutes…you can’t even imagine how that will improve everything else. Or take the same 5 minutes for a walk in the sun…if weather permits. Sunlight is so healing!

Or 5 minutes of just listening to music is also perfect. Draw for 5 minutes! Engage that right brain part of your healing brain. Or laugh and giggle at something, anything, if you can. (And, did I mention…breathe!). Here is a fantastic link if you need support for breathing or body-based quick breaks: Free Short Meditations from UCLA. And by the way, a soothing fragrant candle like this one never hurts.

-Don’t forget the helpful supplements, teas, and foods.

Those of you who have followed me for awhile know I constantly harp on my favorite supplement site, iHerb. They have fast delivery, a very intuitive, easy-to-use website, great customer service, and even carry healthy foods and great body care products too. With their overnight shipping, you can still get great gifts there (or for you!); just a few of many examples are these travel items, fabulous men’s skincare products, a relaxing chamomile neck pillow, a hot chocolate sugar rub for the body, or this culture starter for your fermented-food-making pals!). And YES, I do get a very, very small referral fee if you use my code LIZ264 on your first order at checkout (which gives you $5-$10 off, depending what you spend). But also, they really do have the best price on my FAVORITE go-to-supplements for keeping well during exposure times of year. This is my absolute #1: Gaia Quick Defense. I can’t tell you how much I loooooooove that one. Some other popular ones are here; see which appeal to you and keep a few on hand. (Oh, and here’s a whole slew of ways to organize your pills for travel…or busy schedules in general: pill organizers).

– The nurturing, the laughing, the fun and games, oh my.

Well we know holidays CAN be great, and/or can bring up so much stuff (grief, anger, loneliness, regret, and more) that we prefer not to have at the table. I say, nurture thyself first and foremost by befriending the feeling states.

Definitely give air to that which is painful (cry, scream, talk to someone, hit a pillow. Then cuddle yourself: drink some really yummy warming tea (make sure it’s organic to avoid those chemical flavorings), escape into a good book or an escapist and/or happy film, let yourself BE when you can…demands aside (have you noticed how many who say they don’t have time for themselves nor for relaxing, wind up sick and then have to do exactly that?).

If you ARE lucky enough to have a really happy time with friends or family on the horizon, do whatever is the most fun fun fun for all…including making sure your own preferences are clear. I have a fantasty that someday, someone(s) will take me up on my suggestions to read this recipe and then these hilarious reviews at a holiday (or other large gathering) as quite a few of those 1087 reviews are priceless. (Besides which, it not incidentally also gives me GREAT hope for humanity, even my fellow Americans who lately I wonder about, to see the cleverness in that venue).

You, of course, may have some other ideas for fun and games.  

So that is a quick summation for now. before it’s REALLY too late to give you seasonal tips. Oh, and about the news you don’t want to miss. My next blog post, right around Christmas, is going to have the most amazing (and spiritual) news item that I promise you have never, ever heard about!! Make sure to sign up on my mailing list below if you aren’t on it already; you will not want to miss it!