I’m convinced that one of the main reasons for craving sweets and baked goods during the holidays is because we’re STRESSED & we’re not managing our STRESS through more positive outlets, so we turn to the quick fix which gives us a boost in seratonin & dopamine, & are usually the chocolates, baked goods, &/or alcoholic beverage of your choosing.
The Good News…these temporarily make you feel better and relaxed, and give you short term relief.
The Bad News….it’s easy to overindulge rather quickly, which usually leads us to feel regretful, hungover, and even feel more tired & stress…
This isn’t a good way to start out our already busy days during the holiday season….see how this cycle can get a little vicious & repetitive.
Psssst. I’ve got a secret! Here are two strategies that will manage your stress in a more positive outlet, but we will resist it at first. It takes a little effort to do them, but they are both crucial to managing our stress.
What Are They?
1. Movement – Any movement will do, but for stress relief, I recommend Leisure Walking, Stretching, Yoga, Dancing, Pilates, Tai Chi, etc. I just started taking some dance classes recently…and I’m LOVING it! It’s SO MUCH FUN and a great way to spend time with friends.
2. Meditation – Start with just 5 minutes daily. Need a little help at first, download free guided meditations on your phone. I like and am trying out currently the free versions of: Whil, Headspace, & Calm.
I know, I know, you were hoping for something easier, but I don’t know what to tell you. Except that these 2 things WORK!
Meditation not only increases your FOCUS and calms your mind, but it also increases your self-control to assist you in overcoming cravings so that you can stick to your long term goals. There’s numerous research out there to prove this, but I can tell you it’s been helping me tremendously over the last 3 months that I’ve been doing it.
The bottom line: Meditation is one way to decrease impulsive behavior & keep you on the path to achieving your long term goals, whether it’s related to saying NO to a craving, being productive in your work when you want to watch TV, &/or turning down an opportunity to buy something when your goal is to save money!
I also don’t feel it’s a coincidence that a lot of top productivity coaches, authors, high level executives, athletes, and tons of other people include a form of these 2 in their daily rituals, too! If it works for them to perform at top levels, than why won’t it work for us?
I started meditating for 5 minutes daily back in September 2015 and have seen an increase in my productivity, ability to handle stress & to FOCUS on what’s important, catch myself in a craving & stop myself, and in my overall creativity.
Why not try some form of movement or meditation the next time you’re feeling stressed, instead of reaching for the sweet stuff? Better yet, try a little bit of movement & meditation first thing in the morning, and see if you feel less stressed & tempted throughout the day! You may be pleasantly surprised
As always, comment below and let me know how it’s going, what you’re struggling with, &/or what you’re up to!
Thanks for stopping by,
Tommie
P.S. Would you like to indulge in your favorite foods over the holidays without feeling guilty? Sign up to receive The Mindless Eating Solution. You can easily implement these mindful eating habits at any meal, even during the holidays, so that you will eat less but enjoy your food more! Learn more by clicking HERE.