Nicole Beurkens

America’s Most Trusted Child Psychologist

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Calming Without Calories this Holiday by Dr. Susan Albers

Holiday stress is inevitable! It can be a not-so-merry time for parents–kids are out of their normal routine, hyped-up on sugar and grumpy after being up too late at holiday parties!

Instead of soothing and calming your nerves this year with sugar cookies and candy canes, Dr. Susan Albers, psychologist and New York Times Bestselling author, recommends these 9 natural techniques from her new book, 50 More Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food.

 

1) Ho-Ho-Ho Meditation: Holidays are stressful and a recipe for stress eating. Close your eyes and do 3 Santa Clause like belly laughs—this is a simple laughing yoga exercise. Laughing yoga has been shown to reduce your cortisol level, the stress hormone that makes you crave sugary, fatty, salty foods. Creating a moment of laughter can be as simple as Googling “funny baby videos” or “viral videos” on Youtube.

2) Tea Time: Bye-bye pumpkin lattes! Sip Cinnamon tea. Cinnamon is clinically shown to help regulate your blood sugar, which can help to avoid sugary treats. Also, the scent of cinnamon is calming and a sweet calorie free reminder of the holiday.

3) Munch Well: Does simply chewing on something make you feel better? Try gnawing on leftover pumpkin seeds that you dry and roast. Not only is this chewy and will satisfy your need to munch, it contains L-tryptophan which helps to naturally combat depression and the blues.

4) Take a Squeegee Breathe: Have you ever used a squeegee on a car or kitchen window? In a sweeping motion, you can wipe a window clean in one stroke, leaving a shiny and clear pane of glass in its place. Use this imagery when you need to let go of stress, worry, or irritation. Take a deep breath. Focus on the top of your head. As you exhale, imagine the stress escaping along with your breath. Visualize the squeegee going all the way from your head down to your toes. Repeat 3 times.

5) Make Origami: According to research, origami is a good distraction and it has been shown to stimulate the frontal cortex—the part of the brain that makes decisions, including food decisions. This activity also fun to do with your kids. Slip your origami pieces into a holiday card or hide a fun message in the folds.

6) Shoe Meditation: Create a shoe ritual. As you slip off your heels or boots from work, say, “I leave my stress here at the door.” This mantra will help you to let go of the days stress instead of trying to shed your stress munching your way through the kitchen with a pre-dinner, post-work snack.

7) Turn Up The Heat: Place your PJs in the dryer for a five minutes before going to bed. Research indicates that raising your body temperature slightly can help you get to sleep faster and rest easier.

8) Mind Makeover: Getting a different perspective on a stressful situation can sometimes help. Try the 5 meditation. Close your eyes and imagine how much on a scale from 1-10 how this stressful event will feel in 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 years, 5 decades. Notice how this shift in perspective can remind you not to sweat the small stuff—soon you won’t give them a second thought.

9) When you feel life is spinning out of control it’s helpful to do a grounding technique. Place your elbows on the table. Rub your hands together quickly until you feel the warmth. Place your palms over your eyes to transfer the heat for a soothing moment. Or, put yourself in the Child’s yoga pose—sitting with your legs tucked under you. Then, place your forehead on the ground or a pillow to “ground” your emotions.

Wishing you a merry, mindful holiday!

Take the Calm Without Calorie Quiz to determine if you are an emotional eater. Pre-order 50 More Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food before Nov 30th for 8 bonus items (see them here). It’s the perfect gift for yourself that will give back to you all year long–moments of relaxation and a healthy way to manage your weight.

What You Should Do Next:

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