It’s “the most wonderful time of the year!” How can you take care of yourself this holiday season? [Fridays: Mindfulness by Miles]
Miles Everson’s Business Builder Daily speaks to the heart of what great marketers, business leaders, and other professionals need to succeed in advertising, communications, managing their investments, career strategy, and more.
A Note from Miles Everson:
Hi, everyone! How are you?
We’re excited to share another health and mindfulness tip in today’s article.
Every Friday, we talk about topics related to wealth, health, and our overall well-being. Our hope is you’ll also find these articles insightful and helpful in both your personal life and career.
Excited for today’s feature?
Continue reading to know how you can keep yourself healthy during the holiday season.
Miles Everson
CEO, MBO Partners
Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute
Mindfulness by Miles
It’s that time of year again!
Can you hear the Christmas bells ringing?
Highly likely, many people will travel a lot this season, have busy schedules, and spend lots of money on gifts. It’s no secret that the holidays are this thrilling and busy, and that’s why it can leave some of us feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, and in some ways, unhealthy.
MBO Partners’ CEO Miles Everson says although the holidays are about giving to and focusing on others, he has learned it’s also vital to give oneself a “personal well-being” gift.
He adds if you don’t take care of yourself, there’s no way you can take care of and entertain others, and enjoy the Yuletide season.
That’s why at the start of the holidays, Everson takes time to prepare his mind and body, and get in tune with his habits to make this season as enjoyable, stress-free, and healthy as possible.
Once he began this personal pre-holiday ritual, he found himself taking part in the merriment more. He’s also sharing these rituals to help you stay healthy throughout the “most wonderful time of the year.”
- Run-Run-Rudolph
One of the things Everson notices about the holidays is that countless hours are spent sitting because people are usually talking with their relatives and friends over good food.
So, if you are far from home or the gym, Everson says you have to find other ways to get those necessary steps in. This is because moving each day is vital. Not only does your body crave movement, but moving is also known to counter bad moods.
Everson’s tip for getting a sufficient amount of movement this holiday season is to go outside. Try going for a walk after meals. If you do that at night, you and your family can also enjoy seeing all the holiday lights in your area.
- Baby-It’s-Cold-Outside Meals
Temperatures in the U.S. and other parts of the world are starting to drop this season, so before leaving your home, make sure you have at least 3 layers of clothing on or always bring an extra coat or jacket to keep you warm.
However, what does the winter season mean for your eating habits?
Everson says if you have read about the Danish culture for “comfortable conviviality”—Hygge (pronounced as hoo-gah)—or are familiar with Ayurvedic cooking (a cooking principle that combines the elements of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and pungent), you’ll know the importance of eating locally AND seasonally.
Generally, a human body needs grounding and nourishing meals especially during winter. So, eat pumpkins, apples, and potatoes. Additionally, root crops and hot teas will help keep your body full of energy and nutrients.
However, this does not mean eating an entire pumpkin or apple pie. What Everson is saying is for example, you should combine your Greek yogurt with some apple slices and cinnamon. This will enable you to satisfy your mind and body’s craving for seasonal, holiday-ish flavors while doing it healthily.
- Silent Nights
Everson’s third ritual, which he NEVER compromises on, is his sleep schedule.
According to him, experts have found that sleep is more impactful than any diet or exercise routine. This means no matter how much you exercise and how many sugar or calories you avoid, they will be useless if you don’t get enough sleep.
The reason for this is because having rest through sleeping improves both your mood and energy. Additionally, sleep is linked to curving extreme cravings. So, if you are not getting a good 7 to 9 hours of sleep, those delectable sugar cookies or slices of pumpkin pie may appear more appetizing than usual.
… and no, it’s not the holiday spirit bubbling within you! It’s just your body telling you something important.
- Last Christmas DON’Ts
Traditions are great, but they can also become outdated as years go by and generational preferences change.
That’s why each year, Everson reflects on what the previous year was like for him and his family. He asks himself what made the previous holiday season special, what his favorite holiday memory was, and how everyone acted.
Aside from that, he also asks himself what he would have changed that time, or if there were any moments he wished had not happened. Doing these evaluations enables him to go forward with innovative ideas and even better suggestions on what he can add or take away from his family’s holiday traditions.
For instance: In one particular year, he noticed one dish at Thanksgiving was never touched. When he asked what everyone thought about the dish (he’s always had this dish at Thanksgiving since he was a child), everyone said they disliked its taste. So, he proposed to replace it with something else. Thankfully, the new dish was a success and everyone in the family liked it!
The bottom line?
Never be afraid to create new traditions and replace some old ones if they are tedious or no longer appreciated.
- Take a “Grinch” Moment
If you know Dr. Seuss’ “The Grinch,” then you know how this creature originally likes being alone and taking time for himself. However, as the story progresses, he eventually learns to enjoy the company of others.
Some people might have been quick to judge the Grinch. However, if you look at the story through his perspective, you’ll realize he had deeper reasons behind his actions.
The lesson you can get from this story?
Taking time for yourself is vital. Clearing your mind and taking a breather will allow you to be more present and kinder towards yourself and those around you—especially at a time when you are juggling work, family, and friends.
Everson says one of the things he learned from his daughter is that 5 minutes of alone time is all you need some days. He adds his daughter suggested trying something like the 5-minute journal, or using a meditation app or timer to sit still. He plans to make this a habit in the coming year.
We hope you find some inspiration from Everson’s pre-holiday rituals and apply them as you prepare yourself for the holidays too!
Overall, there are countless tips on how to stay healthy—not just physically but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—this season. Everson encourages you to write down your intentions and plans for staying healthy at this time of the year, as these will serve as a guidebook for you.
These tips will not only remind you of your intention to take care of yourself, but will also remind you of the importance of staying healthy so you can take care of your loved ones in the coming holidays.
Enjoy the season, everyone!
(This article is from The Business Builder Daily, a newsletter by The I Institute in collaboration with MBO Partners.)
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Fridays: Mindfulness by Miles”
High-performance businesses are run by people who think and act differently.
In other words, these are people who are high-performing individuals.
Companies and individuals of this kind have found ways to escape the grind of commoditization and competition by focusing on the RIGHT goals.
High-performing businesses and individuals are also “return driven” businesses and “career driven” individuals. They conscientiously develop unique capabilities and resources that allow them to deliver offerings in ways no other firm or individual can.
Every Friday, we’ll publish tips and insights from MBO Partners and The I Institute’s “The Business Builder Daily” newsletter.
These will help you gain knowledge on the things that Miles Everson, the CEO of MBO Partners, often talks about regarding the future of the workforce.
We’ll also highlight other mindfulness advice on how you can be a high-performing individual both in your career and personal life.
Hope you’ve found this week’s insight interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Friday’s “Mindfulness by Miles!”
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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