Unforgettable: How To Let Go Of Tension This Holiday Season 🧘🏻
This winter, learn when to let it go- the cold never bothered me anyway.
3 min read
PUSH IT REAL GOOD
🏋🏻♀️ If you’re working too hard to offset the holiday treats, you might be feeling extra creaky and sore after your workout sesh or your Turkey Trot. It’s not bad to push yourself into higher gear to lessen the impact of extra mashed potatoes and gravy, but do it with care. Overdoing it can lead to injury or at the very least, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), defined as extreme soreness which sets in after a 24-hour period without pain, but will set you back another 24. Go into your toolbox to help support rest and recovery:
Hot water immersion- notice I’m not suggesting the ubiquitous cold plunge here. We love it, but it’s worth noting that cold water immersion following resistance training can actually diminish the gains you made lifting weights, so reserve those frigid dips for more cardio-focused days.
Sauna- not just for sweating out the nasties, but for taming inflammation and soothing soreness. Find a local infrared studio like Recoverie NYC (tell them I sent you), or invest in a home sweat device like Higher Dose’s sauna blanket.
Electrolytes- if I sound like a broken record it’s because dehydration is real. Sweat/replenish/repeat! Hot people drink water, hotter people add mineral-rich electolytes like LMNT.
Massage- in this age of high tech recovery, this seems downright old-fashioned, but a good massage can make a world of difference post-workout. Just make sure it’s a deep tissue technique and not a “fluff and buff,” to gain any real benefit besides taking a super expensive nap in a robe.
MORE THAN WORDS
Speaking of easing tension, a mantra to bear in mind as we enter into holiday gatherings, where this year, more than a few tongues may need biting.
“Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it kills your enemy.”
Versions of this quote have been attributed all over the map, from Nelson Mandela to the Bible and maybe a few wingnuts in between. But regardless of the source, mind the sentiment. It can be incredibly stressful to spend extended time around folks with whom you don’t see eye to eye. But holding a grudge, aka living in resentment, can eat you alive from the inside out, and who wants that? You want to be at Thanksgiving next year, if not for the stuffing, then at least to catch Part II of Wicked, amiright? 🧙♀️
HERE’S A TIP, MAKE THE CHANGE
When interpersonal tensions run high, forgiveness is easier said than done. I’m not here to preach, but I AM here to provide some tools to help keep yourself in check, for the sake of your own wellbeing. Before walking into the next gathering with your panties in a bunch, take a deep breath and think about leaving it up to the FATES:
Forgive: early and often. Forgiveness releases tension and frees you from living in the past. It’s not about being a doormat-you can forgive without forgetting, which helps you maintain a healthy boundary going forward.
Air Time: not every situation holds the same weight. A minor infraction should not stir up the same emotion as a major insult- do your best to differentiate between the two.
Timeline: before you determine what response is required*, ask yourself- how much will this matter in 5 minutes, 5 months or 5 years?
Empathize: put yourself in their shoes and try to see the whole story objectively, call in a neutral third party if necessary.
See Above. Forgive early and often. #Goals, right?
*Here is where “Respond, Don’t React” is a valuable tool, but that would have made the acronym FARTES and nobody wants that. But now you can’t unthink it. 💨🤷🏻♀️
GIVE A LITTLE BIT
Here’s a Tip, Give A Tip: did you know you can tip your Amazon delivery person this holiday season? Amazon is awarding tips ranging from $100 to $10,000 to their drivers who receive the most “Thanks.” You can submit your thanks via the Amazon app or asking Alexa to “thank my driver.” We should all aspire to tip like Taylor, but if you don’t have $197M to spare, give what you can, make someone feel unforgettable, too. You’re welcome. 🤗