I’ve never been much of a drinker. I drank for a bit in university, but I hated the taste (hello, big into flavour over here, if it wasn’t already obvious), and I really couldn’t hold my alcohol. It wasn’t a big deal or a big decision for me, it just wasn’t my thing.

 

I don’t need to preach about the health impacts of alcohol consumption, but when asked about shifting away from a lifestyle of drinking, here’s what I share:

Nowadays it’s even easier to skip alcohol thanks to all of the tasty mocktail and alcohol-free options on the market, like Seedlip or Ceder’s. Kombucha is a great substitute too, with the added bonus of probiotics!

 

It’s easy to let emotions get the better of us, but the best thing we can do for ourselves when we experience something that triggers our fight or flight response is to remember that we can take action to calm down our physical response. 

 

Meditation can sound intimidating to beginners, but in its most simple practice, it’s just breathing. Start by taking several purposeful, slow deep breaths: breathing in for a count of four, holding it for a count of four, and then releasing it for a count of eight. Repeat this three to four times, it’s proven to physically calm down your nervous system. Calming your body will help to calm your mind.

 

I’ve also made a five-minute meditation that’s great for stress reduction. Click the link below and save it in your bookmarks for days when you’re really feeling it. I promise you, you’ll feel an incredible difference almost immediately.

I don’t know about all of you, but all I want for the holidays are a few quiet minutes of peace and tranquillity, so that’s what I’m gifting to others!

 

I love calming aromatherapy oils, like lavender and chamomile. These diffusers from Saje are beautiful on display, but you can just as easily put a blend of oils on a cotton ball to inhale for a sense of calm, or place under your pillow at night.

The light pressure of this weighted blanket simulates the feeling of a hug, which releases oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin in the brain (your “feel good” hormones).

Choose a blanket that is about 10% of your body weight, plus 1 or 2 lbs - for children keep it to 5% of their body weight.

Keeping a journal has been a really helpful exercise for me. The Gratitude Journal is amazing for boosting happiness, reducing stress, and improving overall health and sleep quality. It’s also a great tool for stress relief, working through problems and emotions, and tracking growth.