Last month I talked about keeping your immune system strong for the holidays. Guess what? Here we are, not so many shopping days left. You’re doing a great job staying healthy, and we’re in the home stretch. It’s important to finish that list and still look and feel your best to ring in 2017.
Sleep is number one. When we hit that pillow we need to make good use of the hours (hopefully 7 or more) of rejuvenating sleep. With that in mind, let’s talk about how to reduce daytime stress so that your night can bring you the rest you need to get you through the next day.
During the day, I like to use adaptogen (stress-reducing) herbs like rhodiola or schisandra, and prefer to take them in liquid form – liquids are easy to put in my protein shake. Both herbs will help with stress: rhodiola not only calms you, it also helps you to have focus. Schisandra is said to heal the heart and quiet the nerves – a great adaptogen that really helps your body adapt to the stress so you can do what you need to do.
Before I go to bed, I make myself a cup of herbal tea, and take my probiotic and some magnesium. This allows my gut and my muscles to rest. Then I take four drops of lavender and add it to one pump of my favorite hand lotion, apply this mix to my neck and shoulders, and before I know it, I am having my sugar plum dreams.
I wish you all the best for the holiday season. May you be healthy and safe.
Carmina