By Dr. Mary Peric ND
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season already upon us, it is overwhelmingly easy to become stressed with all the to-do’s to cross off our lists. A personal goal of mine this Christmastime, is to maintain the peace and joy of the Christmas spirit. Here are some suggestions that I share with you to create peace in your home amongst your family and friends.
Pencil in “free” time to relax. What this implies is schedule yourself time within the day, evening or weekend to do nothing. No social gatherings, no shopping trips or anything that would make you feel busy. Use this opportunity to put up your feet, relax with a warm cup of tea and cozy blanket while watching your favourite Christmas movie or reading that book you’ve been wanting to pick-up.
Plan to spend sometime outdoors. As the weather of the fall transitions into the winter, we often tend to get comfortable and cozy indoors. Remember, indoor air pollution is detrimental to our health – especially when we don’t open the windows and allow a fresh breeze in. Get outdoors! Go for a walk or a hike on a trail and as the weather gets chillier and snow starts to fall, consider some favourite Canadian past-times like outdoor skating rinks or hitting the slopes. If that does not interest you, consider a hydrotherapy treatment like the Scandinave Spa at Blue Mountain.
Keep a regular sleep schedule. If you plan to take some vacation time this holiday season, try to keep to your regular sleep schedule throughout the week and on weekends. With all the social gatherings upon us, we often tend to stay out late and wake up at irregular hours this time of year. One of the best ways to rejuvenate your body and spirit is to get to bed at a decent hour and wake preferably at a consistent time. This will also help keep your immune system in check.
Remember what the holidays are all about! Family, friends, love, joy and quality time. With the commercialization of the holidays, we often get worked up into shopping and gift giving. Let your creativity shine and instead of buying the latest gadget or spending a hefty part of your pay cheque on a present, consider making something – bake some delicious nutritious cookies for your family and friends, prepare a meal together, try home-made personal care items, take a craft class or if you enjoy knitting and crocheting, gift a scarf!
Maternity Leave
Thank you to all patients of the Waterdown Clinic for your well wishes for a safe, easy delivery and healthy baby. I want to remind you that I will be away from the office for a modified short-term maternity leave. In the meantime, Dr. Jaklin and Dr. Searle will be available to maintain your care. I will be returning to the clinic on Tuesday February 16th and am looking forward to continuing your care then. In the meantime, have a safe, healthy and very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
