Popcorn Flicks, Downtime, Vitamin D, and Vitamin Dance

small reminders to keep you healthy and happy this holiday season

Dec 11, 2024

a group of people standing around in a room — Photo by Aleksandr Popov on Unsplash

We’re in the eye of the holiday storm.

Every year, I swear I’ll manage it better: practice balance, avoid over-committing, shop sooner (and less). And every year I fail spectacularly.

Full confession: I’m a card carrying member of the FOMO club. I don’t want to miss a thing! The parties, the dinners, the ‘fill-in-the-reason-to-celebrate’. I absolutely love the buzz and pop and crackle of the season. This is a distinctly Sagittarian trait. I’ll give you one free guess what zodiac season we find ourselves in.

female with arrow statue — Sagittarius is kind of badass

Except. We all know what happens next.

If we don’t insert pit stops and self-care routines amidst the circus that is December, cue the transition from party animalette to burnt out naturopath (yes, many of these reminders are notes to self).

Small reminders to keep you healthy and happy

None of the tips below are major undertakings. Who has the time for a major undertaking right now?

These are merely tweaks to a daily routine to make the holiday season work for - not against - you.

Take your Vitamin D. If you live in a northern clime, take 4000-5000 iu daily. Consider it sunshine in a bottle until the real thing arrives.
Make time for working out. Whether it be hitting the gym, strapping on skis, or taking a long walk, carve out time every single day to move your body.
Make time for you. A book, a bath, a nap; whatever floats your boat. If you can manage this 4-5 times a week, you’re golden.
Get enough sleep. If you choose one thing only, let it be this. We’re approaching the winter solstice and your body needs more sleep. Trust your instincts when the darkest days of the year roll in. Go to bed early.
Eat warm, cooked food. Bonus: get plenty of protein. The party season coincides with cold weather. Swap out salads for soups, and eat heartier fare. Both will give your immune system the fuel it needs to keeping you in fighting form.
Catch up on happy entertainment in your downtime. The world is full of darkness right now, which is historically - and presently - why we humans fight it with the light. Some of my favourite happy popcorn flicks are listed below.
Make time for those you love.

My ever-so-wise yoga mat opines “that which matters the least should never give way to that which matters the most”. It’s a reminder I sometimes need as I sprint from one errand to the next. At the end of the day, our loved ones are what life is all about, and it’s the reason why we celebrate the season in the first place.

Tell your friends and family you love them, not with things, but with deeds and words.

Bake cookies, go for a walk, play a game, give a heartfelt hug, have a laugh. Because no matter what’s under the tree, it’s never been more true that all you need is love.

Last but not least!

DANCE.

And now we come full circle. This item is also prominently featured on my vintage Lulu mat, which operates as a vehicle for exercise, meditation, and a reminder that life’s not all about the things we all know are ‘good for you’.

Dancing is always recommended, in my opinion, and one of the main reasons this celebratory season is GLORIOUS (I’ve included a toe-tapping playlist just in case you need a little inspiration).

When we insert a few pauses amongst the peaks, the good times are joy, bottled. So, go on, put on those dancing shoes and get jiggy with it.

That’s my professional prescription for holiday - or anytime - health and happiness.