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We are in the darkest days of the winter and deep into the holiday season (read ‘stress’ for moms traditionally) and winter school break for many. The need for self care and reducing our stress has become even more needed than usual.  Your presence in my life is a gift and I’m incredibly grateful. One of my hopes for you is that you can be grateful for the gift of yourself. 

You deserve to have less stress and be able to enjoy this time leading up to the New Year and not just get through it. 🙂 

So here we go! My holiday gift to you are these 10 Holiday Stress Tips:

  1. Plan ahead. 
  2. Lower expectations.
  3. Let it all be GOOD ENOUGH.
  4. Let go of “Shoulding” on yourself.
  5. Allow micro moments of joy. 
  6. Include beauty.
  7. Eat what you love.
  8. Rest. 
  9. Breathe.
  10. Allow yourself to believe in the magic of this season. 

Any one of those 10 things has the capacity to fill you up and reduce your stress. It’s okay to make it a game and see what ways you can use one or more of them. I’d love to hear what shifts by using one or more of them. But only if letting me know fills you up and doesn’t feel like one more thing to do. 🙂 

As those of you who are caregivers are able to reduce your stress, you’ll have more capacity to support your loved one with an eating disorder. 

Your gift to yourself and your loved one in recovery might include you choosing to practice one or more of these 5 self care tips to help you support your loved one: 

Caregivers cannot pour from an empty cup.

  1. Time alone for both of you.
  2. Guided meditations to take you out of your worrisome thoughts.
  3. Conscious breathing tools.
  4. Gratitude
  5. Magical Micro Moments of Joy

Really truly, as those of you who are caregivers are able to reduce your stress, you’ll have more capacity to support your loved one with an eating disorder. Really. It makes a difference for your life and theirs. I’ve seen miraculous healing of those with eating disorders when their primary caregivers fill their own cup. 

Cheers to filling your cup! Happy New Year!