The holiday season can be joyful, but it’s also a time when stress, late nights, and indulgent foods can leave your body feeling off balance. Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, offers simple practices to help you stay grounded, calm, and nourished during this busy time. Here are five holiday non-negotiables that I use to help me stay sane during this season:
- Sip warm water during the day: Instead of chugging large amounts, sip on warm water throughout the day. Small, frequent sips help keep your digestive system lubricated and ready to process holiday meals with ease.
- Rub sesame oil on your feet: Before bed, massage a little bit of sesame oil onto your feet. This simple ritual signals your body to switch into rest mode and it soothes the nervous system, helping you fall asleep more easily.
- Meditate: Meditation doesn’t have to be long or complicated. Close your eyes, turn off any distractions, and simply tune into your breath for one minute. Just 60 seconds of stillness can reset your nervous system and bring a sense of calm into your day.
- Prioritize meals over snacks: Try structuring your eating like this… Breakfast, then nothing till lunch. Lunch, then nothing till dinner. Dinner, then nothing till bed. Giving your digestive system a break helps stabilize your mood, reduces cravings, and prevents the holiday urge to overeat.
- Walk after meals: A gentle walk after eating is one of the simplest ways to support digestion and release stress. Bonus points if you breathe deeply through your nose while walking!
Try one, a few, or all five of these practices this holiday season. Your body will thank you.
Enlightened Escape 