The holidays: a magical time of year filled with twinkling lights, festive cheer, and... the frantic stress of trying to juggle it all? It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, while the true holiday spirit gets lost in the shuffle. But what if we told you your home could actually help you stay healthy and happy during this busy time of year?
Start by imagining your home as your own personal wellness retreat. Most of the time we may not link our home with our health and happiness, but the practice of holistic design is all about discovering the powerful influences our environment has on upon us. Here are a few simple tweaks that can help transform your home into a haven of peace and wellbeing this holiday season.
1. Lighten Up:
We all know that sunlight is essential for our mental and physical health. During the shorter days of winter, make sure your home is well-lit and open the shades to let the sunshine stream in. Step outside in the mornings to gaze at the sunrise for a few minutes of red spectrum light, or invest in a red light therapy system, which has been linked with improved complexion, mood and sleep patterns. In the evenings, opt for warm lighting like candles or soft lamps. Dim amber lighting stimulates oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which lowers stress, builds trust and fosters social connections, all of which are key for relaxing holiday gatherings. LED lights are tricky, so be sure to look for “dim-to-warm” bulbs that get warmer as they dim down.
2. Create Calm:
Creating warm and inviting spaces for self-care routines, such as exercise, meditation or yoga, helps make these activities more likely to happen. While traveling or hosting family, wellness routines may easily be disrupted, but setting the scene for calm can be a powerful practice no matter where you are, or who is around. It may be as simple as lighting a candle, putting on some soothing or uplifting music, turning off the lights and sitting in the glow of a Christmas tree, gazing at a fire, or putting everything aside to play with a child or pet. During the holidays and beyond, a designated “wind down hour” before bed is a great way to reduce screen time, increase “being” time, and improve sleep.
3. Breathe Easy:
Your home's air quality is an invisible force field protecting your health. A quick and easy way to boost air quality is to change your furnace filter more regularly (calendar reminders help) and use a thicker HEPA rated filter, especially during cold season. Placing air purifiers in every room is a highly effective way to help contain any bugs your family or friends may bring home for the holidays. Purifiers by Blue Air are highly rated and come in handy low-footprint sizes. Also, don't forget to open windows for some fresh air whenever possible!
4. Chill Out:
Although it may not be what comes to mind when you think of the cozy holiday season, immersing in cold water is a great way to boost your energy, mood and immune system. After years of installing cold plunge systems outside our clients’ homes, we’ve noticed a trend towards cold plunging inside, even creating space for this in the primary bathroom, as with Kohler’s new Remedy Place cold plunge tub. Those of us without a dedicated tub can start with a cold shower, first for 30 seconds, and gradually increasing to several minutes. It’s not as easy as plunging, but it brings the same clarity, elation and boost in vitality.
5. Get Outside:
While it’s a wonderful thing to have a home that’s so comfortable you never want to leave, it’s also just as important to get outside. Studies say that in the US we are spending over 90% of our time indoors, and most of that time at home. With so much beauty and adventure just outside the door, perhaps we’d do well to make our homes a little less comfortable? Outdoor living areas can help bridge the gap, especially with sparkling holiday lights or cozy fire pits. Star gazing with hot tea or cocoa is a great way to get out of the house and into a state of wonder. For us, our black lab Herbie, is the best at reminding us to get outside and into nature as often as possible.
6. Add Heart:
Perhaps the best de-stressing technique of all is simply shifting into a state of love or gratitude. At times this may feel like a stretch, but it’s really as simple as thinking of something that makes us smile. This is something we can do anywhere, anytime, but what better place than at home, during the holidays, when surrounded by so many loved ones and so much to be thankful for. Breathing slowly and deeply through the heart while thinking of something we appreciate, even for as little as a few minutes at a time, has been shown to significantly reduce stress and boost the immune system for the rest of the day. The Heart Math app and sensor is a fantastic support for this simple but powerful practice.
By making a few of these changes to your home environment, you can create a healthier and happier holiday season for yourself and your loved ones. So, ditch the stress and embrace the joy and coziness! Your home is waiting to become your holiday wellness sanctuary.
And Herbie is waiting for us to get off the computer and get out in the snow.
