During the Christmas month, it is easy to get stressed, overwhelmed and tired. Then it can be good to have a plan for a little self-care and well-being, which can feel like a warm hug. This post is a bit inspired by Eastern philosophy of wellness.
Take care of your energy
For me, balance is the core of well-being, along with energy. According to Chinese tradition, until the winter solstice on December 21, one should focus on silence and thoughtfulness and calm – live life a little slowly. Early evenings and warming nutritious food are part of this. Quite the opposite of what is the traditional western month of December – with bottomless Prosecco bottles and late nights at Christmas dinners and a stressful Christmas shopping on top. However, 2020 is different, with less social gatherings and perhaps also less Christmas shopping in droves at the shopping centers. So maybe this year is the year to try a new variant for the pre-Christmas season and get something good out of this corona season. Lie down earlier than usual and get up a little later, if you can, then follow nature’s rhythm.
Lighter physical activity
For many, the physical activity one wishes to have is limited to lifting the teacup from the table and up to the mouth and down again, and repeating this action. However, in order to maintain the energy in the body, one should expand the list of exercises somewhat. Although calmer forms of activity than in the summer can be good. Some brisk walks outside and a yoga class inside can be alternatives to the run and body pump at the fitness center. This will take care of the need for energy flow and keeping the core of the body warm.
Winter food
Cold foods, such as salads and other raw foods, often do not feel as nutritious and good in winter. In the summer, such food feels good and fresh, but in the winter we often feel the need for something more warming. Avoid food and drink straight from the refrigerator. The drink now should be hot or lukewarm. Again, in the summer we may need to cool the body with something cold to drink, in the winter we rarely need it. Warming soups and stews, whole grains, cabbage, root vegetables, nuts and warming ginger tea are good ingredients to rely on. Here’s a recipe for a warming soup:
Soup with white beans and kale
3 servings
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 carrot, in small pieces
1 stalk celery, in small pieces
A little sea salt and ground pepper
2 garlic boats, chopped
Fresh rosemary leaves from two stems, chopped
2 cans of white beans, rinsed and drained
1 liter of vegetable stock / broth
1 packet of kale, in small pieces, without the stem
Juice of half a lemon
This is what you do:
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and celery, as well as salt and pepper. Stir while the vegetables are soft for about 5 minutes.
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Add garlic, rosemary, beans and kraft / broth. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat to a simmer.
Put about half of the soup in a blender or blend with a hand mixer. Pour back into the soup pot.
Stir in the kale leaves and cook over low heat for 20 minutes.
- Remove the soup from the plate and stir in the lemon juice.
Serve and season to taste
Enjoy
A little spa feeling
In Eastern philosophy, water is associated with the winter months and taking a warm bath, or foot bath, can be lovely now. The slightly increased body temperature can help the energy flow in the body. Add oils of, for example, lavender flower, marjoram, chamomile flower or Ylang Ylang flower, in addition to Epsom salt which contain magnesium. Magnesium sends neurotransmitters to the brain that promote sleep and reduce stress. Oils can be purchased individually or in special blends as needed.
Look inward
In winter, nature draws energy inwards. The chlorophyll in the leaves creeps into the trees and the leaves fall off, flowers and grass wither on the surface and the roots lie dormant until winter. Winter is also a great time for us to turn our thoughts inward and reflect on the past year and make plans for the next one. Making up emotional status and getting rid of what weighs on us mentally is a good exercise. Often it is something that weighs on us that we resent others. To forgive is to set oneself free. Forgiveness is not about accepting an action, but letting go of the pain it gives you.
Enjoy yourself at home
Now, in the run-up to Christmas, it feels good to find lights and lanterns and light the fireplace. All the lights that are hung on houses and bushes and toes outside bring joy now in the winter darkness. And when we light candles and light the fireplace, it is as if our own energy comes from the flames. Before the Christmas decorations arrive, it is nice to have a little cleaning and Christmas washing, if we do not wash ceilings and walls that may have been the tradition before, it is good to clean some space for the decorations so that it comes into its own and not just becomes more clutter on top of already crowded surfaces in the house.
It is soon moving towards brighter times
Many people feel a little extra sad in the dark winter time, and although it can help with a little extra winter self-care, there is also comfort in Tao Te Ching’s words: “Spring is coming, and the grass grows by itself.”
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