As we prepare for the holiday season we may begin to feel overwhelmed by life's demands.
Here are three wellness tips to help improve your mood: 1) Intentionally wake up and start your day by taking a full deep breathe (inhaling for a count of 4, hold for 4 and release for 4) followed by noticing the bottom of your feet as they move across the floor. What do you smell? What do you see? Benefit: Grounding allows you to decrease the effects of challenging thoughts/emotions by increasing your ability to focus on the calming feeling of peace in your body. 2) Turn up the volume on your favorite feel-good song and dance around your home while singing at the top of your lungs as if no one is watching. Benefit: Improves ability to feel pleasure and decreases the impact of stress and anxiety. 3) Physical distance doesn't equate to emotional/social disconnection: Contact that friend or loved one whom you haven't spoken to in awhile or join that virtual social group you have been considering but just haven't had the courage to sign-up for. Benefit: Interacting with others can significantly reduce stress and increases your ability to identify joy and meaning.