The Holidays have rolled in and tis the season of wonder and plenty 

Sun drenched days, family and friends, laughter, togetherness, a happy frenzy 

Food and drink, music and braais, the beach, the bush, the mountain, a time for relaxing 

You’ve toiled and chased, hustled and plotted, all for the chance at finally unwinding 

Yes its finally here, so let’s savour it, sip it slowly, for precious time goes by swiftly

Soon a new dawn will beckon, filled with hopes, dreams, plans and reflections of history

 

December, is my favourite month and why wouldn’t it be? 

It’s my time to kick off my shoes, sit back and leave the drama behind. 

It’s my time to soak up quality moments with my family as they seek respite from the busyness of their lives for a couple of weeks.

It’s my time to chill and be spoilt, a break from my practice, my business, cooking, gym and all that’s routine.

It’s my time to destress and rejuvenate.

All of us go through our own tests,  stress and anxieties in life. Loss of loved ones, illness, strained relationships, unrealistic expectations, financial difficulties and so many more. The promise then of an untethered rest is irresistible and yet I know that to properly reset and be fully invigorated, I have to consciously and deliberately seek balance. This holiday season I’ve mapped out my personal Holistic Healing Plan, so I can enjoy the time off and ensure that January holds no measure of buyer’s remorse. 

My Holistic Healing Plan is going to look and feel a bit different from yours, but the core SMART elements apply to everyone and with a bit of tailoring you too can reach your balance.

Self Care

Nurture your mind and body with gentle self care to unwind the stresses of the year and find your balance. This holiday I plan to focus on rejuvenation and restoration to help get to my physical and spiritual balance. My go-to regimes for the next few weeks include prayer, meditation, massages, ear acupuncture, acupressure healing and reflection - just being in and enjoying the moment. 

Reward and nourish your body and mind with holistic healing therapies, that not only rejuvenate but also cleanse the body of the habits and addictions that simply diminish your natural energy.

Find what works for you and what you can afford, spoil yourself and then make yourself a promise, to incorporate the joy of self-care into your routines every day, week and month going forward. Holistic healing self-care should not be expensive and time consuming, but it does need to be simple, natural and meaningful. Explore the wonders of Holistic healing therapies, find your balance and reach for that elusive happiness that you deserve.

Meals

Holiday meals and snacking seem like culinary heaven, with indulgent food and drink at our fingertips. Guilty pleasures that quickly replace our well thought-through meal and snacking choices and the dietary disciplines of the year. Calorie dense and bursting with flavour, resistance seems futile. Resist we must for a moment on the lips is a few months on the hips. But what would a holiday be without decadent baked goods, greasy pizza’s and burgers, fried chicken and saucy piri piri seafood? The key is to balance indulgence with mindful eating:

Eat Slowly and Mindfully

Savour it and sip it slowly. Studies show that it takes around 20 minutes for your brain to recognise that you’re full. Being deliberate about chewing and appreciating food with your senses engaged, not only gives you time to unlock and delight in the flavours, but also gives your brain and body the time to recognise that you’re full.

For a healthy gut, work on the principle of 3. Ideally your stomach should be 1/3 food, 1/3 liquid and 1/3 air. So aim to eat until you’re 2/3 full and top up with healthy snacks if you’re feeling a bit peckish later on.

Sneak in Healthy Alternatives

Holiday indulgence misses out on the nutrient rich and calorie defying power of veggies. My cheat trick is to choose the veggies side option, load up half my plate with quality veggies and eat them first. Filling up with veggies makes you fuller, quicker, since they’re full of fibre.

Plan on-the-go snacking with fruit, biltong, healthy fats and cheeses instead of chips, sweets and chocolates and replace those fizzy drinks with natural alternatives like coconut water.

Eat small portions, regularly

Large “square” meals, or skipping meals to save up for indulgent festivities, play havoc with your blood sugar levels. Eat small nutritious meals several times a day to maintain your blood sugar. The upside is you’re less ravenous, hangry and much less likely to over eat and give into cravings.

It’s OK to CheatEat

We’re all human and the holidays wouldn’t be the holidays if you're forced to conform to rigid rules. A cheat meal every day during the holidays? It’s ok, as long as I'm mindfully moderating my indulgence and balancing my nutrition most of the day. I’m doing a 70/30 this holiday, allowing myself to be a glutton for a third of all my meals. I know I’ll have to work it off in the new year but it won’t be a mountain to climb.

Activity

Indulgent eating and the social frenzy with family and friends over the holidays can be overwhelming, so much so, that we are tempted to ditch those hard worn fitness habits for a couple of weeks. I may not have clinched the ultimate prize beach bod that I had in mind at the start of this year, but I sure as heck am not going to throw away my gains, for a couple of weeks of blissful indulgence. Besides, the natural boost that comes from movement, may just be the secret sauce to relieve my hectic holiday social stress and give me the energy to fully enjoy the festivities and keep up with my kids. Even light movement releases those feel-good endorphins to improve mood and naturally lift energy levels throughout the day.

So here’s how I plan to find my balance this holiday, weaving threads of exercise into my holiday schedule for some “me” time:

Short Bursts

Having the self-motivation to do our normal daily exercise during the holidays is hard. So let’s make it short and let’s make it count. A 30-minute or less workout is sometimes all we have time for, but a quick workout is better than no workout. So whether it’s a brisk hike, a quick game of beach volleyball or padel, a short, but full stretch run, or 30 hard minutes in the gym, I’m going to invest 2% of my day to maintaining my core fitness.

Super Charged Fun Activities

I love to win, I hate to lose, especially when I’m around family and friends. Not my best quality I’m told, but I reckon life is too short to be coming second. So, I’m going to plan at least one fun, competitive, physical activity for the family every day which is good exercise but doesn’t feel like it and it helps top up the calorie burn counter for the day. Ten pin bowling, swimming, nature hikes, flying a kite at the beach, treasure hunts, games of tag, beach soccer, litchi picking ….there are so many to choose from if you set your mind to it.

Reflection

Harnessing the power of your mind is the key to being Balanced and Happy. Cultivate your inner calm through being grateful and mindful. Take time to pause, breathe and observe your thoughts. Let go of judgement and regret, simply focus on the present moment. Mindful reflection helps clarify thoughts, emotions, and intentions, guiding you toward greater self-awareness and inner peace. 

Reflecting deeply, without distraction, brings calm and positivity, breathing new energy that will unlock your unleash your potential. 

Be Grateful

Being grateful does not mean forgetting or ignoring the tough stuff that is going on in your life, but rather, focusing on all of the good that surrounds you. Reflect on how fortunate you are compared to so many others that have much less and are going through so much worse. Raise your hands in prayer and be thankful for your blessings. It’s liberating and refreshing to appreciate you blessings and commit to be a force for good in this world.

Be Mindful

Reflect deeply on who you are and what your role is in this world. Consider the special value that you bring to so many around you. Think about the love you give and receive. Understand how you feel about how others treat you and how you treat others. Recognise who you are and what you want out of life.

Be Resourceful

Think about your past and be clear about what you have been through both good and bad. Recognise your mistakes and life lessons, toss them into your rucksack and become a stronger you. Celebrate your triumphs and successes and whisper a congratulations to your inner strength.

Recognise your strengths and weaknesses and commit to being more Balanced and Happy.

Be Hopeful

Bake a mental cake with everything you have reflected on, being Grateful, Mindful and Resourceful and set yourself ambitious physical, emotional and spiritual goals for the future. Reflect on your dreams, your hopes, your inner child ambition, for its never too late.

Time Out

Balancing work, family and You can be stressful. Taking time out for yourself to recharge physically, emotionally and spiritually is crucial to achieve balance.

Sleep

Sleep! Your body needs to shut down to heal itself. Lack of sleep weakens your immune system, disrupts your metabolism, and increases the stress hormone cortisol. Holidays are the perfect time to restore your physiological clock and program your body with the sleep routines for natural balance. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night and do not bring your phone to bed. I may not get the chance when life restarts in the new year, so I plan to amp up my lazy afternoon nap times.

Laugh

The world is so serious, life is so serious and we become so gloomy, so serious. It may be a cliché but laughter may just be the best medicine. Tee up a gem of a comedy, watch your favourite comedian, book a date at a comedy club or invite that one friend over who’s humour has no bounds. Enjoy the moment and luxuriate in the natural healing of unbridled, joyous laughter.

Breathe

Find a quiet spot free of any distractions and for a few minutes breathe deeply, feeling every breath you inhale washing over you with life-giving energy. Visualise your stress and problems leaving you with every exhale, leaving you tranquil and calm.

Read

In this age of streaming, clips and reels, the magic, the simplicity, the beauty of reading is quickly becoming a rarity. Studies show that three-quarters of people surveyed said that reading has had a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Stress reduction, cognitive stimulation, improved sleep and enhanced emotional intelligence are just some of the benefits of reading. So whatever you're genre, fiction or non-fiction, make that special 'me' time for a good book, blog or article, remembering to bookmark your favourites and drop the author a message when you have a moment. I know I would love to hear from you. 

Happy Holidays from Auricular Healing

And there you have it, my SMART Holistic Healing Plan for the holidays

 SELF CARE, MEALS, ACTIVITY, REFLECTION and TIME OUT

I hope my plan will help you have a joyful and healthy holiday season. You know You best, so tailoring the Holistic Healing SMART plan for yourself will help you stay Balanced and Happy as you enter the new year. If you need some help, advice or a little nudge I will be delighted to chat to you in the new year. But for now – you got this, as Dr Seuss says:

‘You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the person who’ll decide where to go.’

 

Wishing you a Happy and Balanced Holiday and New Year

Regards

Fatima