5 tips to Beat the Winter Blues
Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high for many of us throughout this year, and
we're now faced with the winter blues as cold, gloomy winter approaches. If there has ever been a time to understand better how stress and anxiety affect our well-being so we can acquire the skills we need to combat them, it is now.
At Optimal Living Summit, our mission has always provided knowledge and education through the optimal living brand. You don't always need extended time away from work or an expensive spa treatment to find relaxation.
Follow these tips to find your Zen quickly, easily, and from the safety and comfort of your own home
- Meditate: A few short minutes of practise every day can profoundly impact symptoms of stress and anxiety. Research suggests that regular meditation can alter our brain's pathways making us more resilient to stress
Where to start: Find a comfortable place without distractions. Sit up straight, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Try a guided meditation to help get you started and keep you on track, avoiding being distracted by your daily to-do list or stressors in your life.
May we recommend: Meditating with Daxa Chauhan? Our online free guided meditation is a signature experience by transformational coach and energy healing expert Daxa Chauhan. Participants across the globe are taught how to calm the nervous system and let go of life's stresses and negativities.
Daxa found healing for her personal suffering, both physical and emotional pain, through Reiki, Hypnosis, and being Mindful. Although her journey had been difficult through pain, she became a highly skilled Energy Healer, Reiki Teacher, Transformational Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, and Past Life Regressionist. She has helped hundreds of clients in the GTA over the years with their healing, and we're so happy she's part of the OLS family.
- Incorporate self-care rituals into your daily routine: You don't need to splurge on a getaway to find relaxation. Adding small acts and rituals of self-care into your day can profoundly affect your ability to deal with stress and anxiety.
Where to start: Make your bed in the morning. Create a room, or even a corner or small space in your home that's a strictly "relaxation zone." Light a candle, spray your room with your favourite scent, make a cup of healing tea.
- May we recommend the OLS Wellness Collection?
Take your self-care to a new level with healing teas, aromatherapy candles and room sprays, the Wellness Action Deck, and more.
- Join us for a FREE workshop: Healing with Tea with Drasko Saban Thursday, November 26 th at 7:00 pm (Eastern)/4:00 pm (Pacific) (Click for Zoom Link)
Drasko Saban is the Founder and Operator of Espirita Tea. Having earned a Psychology degree at the University of Western Ontario, Drasko traveled across China and India, aiming to learn about the secrets to excellent health, truly discovering Tea and all its power in Asia on the ground level. Upon returning to Canada, he played a vital role as co-owner of the esteemed Bampot House of Tea. In 2017, he realized his dream of helping people to heal and sharing his love of Tea with the founding of
Espirita Tea, a wholesaler and private label supplier for all things.
- Schedule "me time." It's essential to schedule a time to care for ourselves, just like scheduling a time for work, appointments, and errands. It's too easy to neglect our self-care, especially with the pressure to be productive at work and be there for the people who need us. Scheduling time for
yourself and sticking to it, just like you would with other responsibilities, is an important part of stress management and self- care.
Where to start: Schedule a few hours for yourself once a week. Add it to your calendar and set the alarm to remind you. Create boundaries by letting loved ones know you'll be unreachable during that time and try your best to unplug from your phone and other distractions. Start small and work your way up to schedule "me time" daily instead of weekly whenever possible.
- Avoid unhealthy habits.
Be sure you're not relying on unhealthy habits such as alcohol, smoking, drugs, or junk food. These habits might make you feel better in the moment, but they're essentially a bandage on a deeper wound. They won't solve your problems and very often create new ones. Find healthy habits that contribute to your health and wellness instead
- Where to start: Try replacing an unhealthy habit with a healthier one.
For example, if you have the urge to drink alcohol after work, try going for a walk instead. When you're feeling triggered by stress and want to reach for your cigarettes, reach for your phone and call a friend instead. Small steps toward healthier habits can make a significant difference in the long run.
- Lean on your friends.
Your network of friends and family is one of the best tools for combatting stress. Talk to the people you love and trust, and share how you're feeling. Your loved ones will often offer a fresh perspective or trusted advice, but sometimes simply sharing your feelings of stress and anxiety can make a significant difference in your mood.
- Where to start: Arrange a weekly or monthly zoom call or phone call with a trusted friend, family member, or group. This can hold you accountable even if you're feeling the desire to retreat inward and isolate yourself. Alternatively, ask a friend to check in if they haven't heard from you in a while. Remember, your loved ones may also benefit from check-in and will likely feel honoured that you trust and rely on them for support.
Follow these five tips to find your Zen from anywhere and combat stress and anxiety during this challenging time and beyond. At OLS, we're obsessed with wellness, and that includes body, mind, and soul. Mental health is health, and we're here for you as part of our community.
If you're struggling with one of the tips above or have your tips to share, please do reach out. We'd love to hear from you.
Stay well and stress-free, friends.
