Before Santa Snaps

Are you already faking the holiday cheer, hoping the pretty wrapping paper and ugly Christmas sweaters are hiding the "Oh Holy Night" you start to feel in your soul this time of year?

You're shopping, planning, chauffeuring, cooking, cleaning, decorating, wrapping, worrying if everyone is taken care of, wondering if the car will be ok in the snow, wondering if you're getting too far behind on work again, wondering if your clients and friends and family are getting enough joy through your efforts, and you've probably already given up on actually ENJOYing the holidays yourself...

Santa's about to snap!

It's not your fault...

Holiday strife is created by feeling obligated to be here, buy that, and go go go - when you may already be strained on time, money, relationships, or personal emotional energy

This stress will manifest in different ways. Physically as a weakened immune system that allows you to get sick easily, or as headaches and tight sore shoulders. Emotionally as a fast-track ticket to big emotional reactions before you can consciously process what's happening, like a blow-up of shouting, or a sudden breakdown into tears. Spiritually (no matter what your personal beliefs) as feeling bitter or dismayed that the joy and love this season is supposed to fill us with is prety much the exact opposite of what you're really feeling, and you start asking yourself, "What's the point?"

It can all leave you feeling as disconnected and burnt out as a dark strand of lights on the tree

Let's work together on a plan to ease your stress, soothe your soul, and reconnect with the holiday spirit

Before Santa Snaps

How to ease the holiday stress and restore the spirit of the season

1. Pick your Poison. List the first three things that come to mind as most sucking your soul right now. Don't look at more than that, because your subconsious mind will get overwhelmed and cause you to go into a spiral where all you see are challenges. We're here to create solutions! Which one of those three things you listed is giving you the biggest challenge? This is the one you'll address this year, because if you take on too many upgrades at once, they'll all suffer. Just pick one

2. What do you need to resolve that challenge, or at least make it easier on you? The strife you're feeling because of this challenge is not your fault, but it IS your responsibility to choose what to do about those feelings. It's so common to feel overwhelmed this time of year, but you can choose to lessen that feeling by seeing what you can say No to. Saying no can look like moving something off your to-do list that really isn't critical, or asking someone to pick up the kids, or skipping some chores. (I say if someone cares enough about me to want to come over and spend time with me, they'll care more about me being sane and happy than they will about seeing my house spotless.) Maybe saying No will be declining an invitation, or choosing to make only a brief appearance at certain gatherings. If it doesn't nourish your soul or makes you feel like crap, you're allowed to limit your exposure. You can love them AND do so from a healthy distance at the same time

3. Set a reward for yourself. We are socially programmed to take care of others' needs - real or anticipated - at the cost of neglecting our own. Rewarding yourself for taking care of your own needs helps your subconscious mind reprogram to recognize that taking care of YOU is a good thing, and the highest priority, because if your light is burnt out, you cannot be a light to others. Keep your light glowing by rewarding yourself. Choose a reward that feels best to you right now: maybe a massage, an hour curled up with a good book, your favorite cafe treat, or a visit with your best friend

4. Plan your SOS options, because even the best laid plans can go sideways. If the season's stress has left you hurting physically with sore shoulders or headaches, release the tension through a gentle chiropractic session. If you feel like you're about to burst from everything you're holding in, have a 15 minute vent session with a good freind that agrees to stop you before you get lost in your emotions. If you're feeling disconnected from the holiday spirit, restore your soul through a relaxing Reiki session

Ready to receive the gift of your own TLC? Reach out to me to set your gentle chiropractic or restorative Reiki session: call or text me direct: (636) 751-3150

5. Grant yourself some grace. If you're used to piling on all the stress and always putting yourself last, practicing these tips will feel really unfamiliar and even uncomfortable at first. You'll be unlearning decades of habits that keep you overwhelmed, as you relearn how to handle it all and keep your soul whole at the same time. There will be moments when the old habits kick back in, and bring the feelings of stress and overwhelm along with them. Take a breath, thank your mind for doing the best it can with what it knows, and go through these steps again. Be kind to yourself. You've got this

To sum it all up:

Pick one challenge to improve, determine what you need to do to ease the stress around it, reward yourself, plan your SOS options, and be kind to yourself

You are capable of being a beautiful light to help shine the way for others - let's keep your flame nourished

Happy Holidays

~Dr. Vicky

(636) 751-3150