The holidays are here in full swing.  Not only are our “To Do” lists twice the normal size, but this holiday season is especially stressful. Unemployment and economic difficulty are on the rise.  Hardship is a part of the season for many of us in a way we have not seen before. The pressure of the holidays and the season of giving, especially in this economic climate, can really take its toll on our own wellness.  How do we remember to take care and why do we need to make it a priority anyway?

Well, for starters, putting our wellness on the back burner is a slippery slope. Once we begin to “skip” taking care of ourselves, we start a process that leads us AWAY from health.  For most of us, giving up wellness didn’t happen overnight.  It was a process, like falling off the path.  At first, it doesn’t seem like you are too far off. But before you know it, you are lost in the woods and nowhere near your path.  The first step here is acknowledging that wellness is a priority.  Simple.  Recognize its importance and if you are off the path of wellness, don’t worry so much. It’s easy to fix, once you realize you need to prioritize it and head back in the right direction.

Staying well, especially during the holidays, is merely a matter of choosing to walk TOWARD health every day.  Most of us negotiate ourselves AWAY from wellness.  “I’ll go back to the gym after the holidays.”  “I don’t have time to slow down today!”  “I’ll catch up on my sleep over the weekend.”  These are dangerous statements that pave your way from health.

Instead, make a decision to work your way TOWARD health every day. Do you skip exercise, meals and time outs?  Concentrate on small steps you can take every day to eat better, move more and get more down time.  One or two changes a day will point you toward the path of wellness.  Visualize your path and try and take a step or two a day.  Just like falling off the path, you will be able to slowly make your way back to where you want to be. Just one step at a time.

What do you do to keep yourself well?  I would love to hear from you! Share in the comments section!

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