Hello and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. As the holidays and the year's end approach, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your interest and support (and your patience) during this holiday season and throughout the year. My sincere apologies, to any of you who may have experienced problems while trying to use the discount codes from either of our last two promotions. For those of you who completed your orders without applying the code, your discount was applied when we received the order.
If you tried to place an order and didn’t complete the process because you were unable to successfully apply the coupon code, please let us know right away. We will be happy to honor the discount and apply it retroactively. But be sure to contact us by tomorrow as that is the last day for the F*REE shipping promotion and also the last day to get your orders in to ensure timely delivery for Christmas.
This is the last issue of the Health & Beauty News for 2009. We will be closed from December 24 to January 11. There will be some limited support available on the 28th and 29th and any orders received on those days will ship out before the end of the year if they are in stock. Orders received after the 29th will be processed and shipped out the week of January 11th and the newsletter will resume on the 13th.
The holidays are a very joyous and wonderful time of the year for most people, but for a lot of people they can also be very stressful. Whether it's related to gift-giving, travel upsets, inclement weather, family dynamics, isolation or overindulgence, this time of year can make us all more susceptible to colds, flu, fatigue and general malaise. This week's article offers some tips for staying happy and healthy during the season and beyond.
Yours in health and prosperity,
Donya
p.s. If you like our products then help us spread the word! Follow us on Twitter or become a fan of Dropwise on Facebook.
Beat the Holiday Blues: 7 Tips for Staying Happy & Healthy During the Season
The holiday blues … at one time or another we’ve all experienced it or know someone who has. It’s the inevitable result of a number of concurrent things that happen at this time of year. For one thing, the days grow considerably shorter so there’s a lot less natural light, and the weather gets colder which tends to keep us indoors more, further reducing our exposure to whatever limited sunlight there is.
Our Circadian rhythms (our internal clocks) are based on external cycles, which affect our eating habits, sleeping patterns, hormones, and even our body temperatures. So by the time the holidays roll around, whether you know it or not, your body is already in the human equivalent of hibernation mode. But as we all know, hibernating is the last thing most of us do during the holiday season.
Instead we brave the cold weather, traffic jams, crowds, and long lines to get our holiday gift shopping done (often at the last minute); stay out late; drink too much; eat too much; and scramble under pressure to complete projects or plans before the close of the year. Is it any wonder so many of us wind up getting the flu or feeling totally run down? It's not enough that we're going against our bodies' natural rhythms; we're practically defying them and at full tilt!
Add to that the pressure of living up to the expectations of children and family members especially during tough economic times, plus the hassle of holiday travel, and you've got a recipe for major stress. So what can you do to take a little bit of the edge off? Here are 7 tips to keep your stress to a minimum, help you make the most of the season, and avoid getting sick:
1. Plan ahead. The more you plan in advance for the season and are prepared for unexpected contingencies the easier and less stressful it will be to deal with. This applies to everything from gift shopping, to entertaining, to holiday travel. Make your gift list early in the year and buy gifts as the year progresses and opportunities present themselves --this will help you avoid the last minute crunch and remain aligned with your true intention in giving gifts. Likewise, if you're going to entertain, plan your menus and make your shopping lists as far in advance as you can, then start stocking up on supplies and dry goods at least a few weeks prior to your events. This helps you avoid the crowds and last minute rushing around. If at all possible, plan your holiday trips so you arrive a little earlier and perhaps, stay a little longer to minimize the like lihood of travel upsets that typically occur immediately before and after the holiday.
2. Get plenty of rest. Stay hydrated and remember to breathe … deeply! When your body is in hibernation mode it needs even more sleep than usual. Be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, or make up for lost sleep by taking frequent naps, and sleeping in whenever possible. Drink plenty of fluids, but especially lots of water to stay hydrated. This is key if you’re drinking a lot of alcohol during the season because it will help keep toxins flushed out and your skin will be a lot happier too. And remember to breathe often and deeply. Getting some regular form of aerobic exercise can make all the difference in your energy level and how you feel, improve the quality of your sleep, and help you cope better. So even though you’re busy, commit to getting at least 10-15 minutes a day of some type of exercise.
3. Avoid refined carbs and sugars. This is a tough one for most people with all the scrumptious desserts and cookies that seem to surround you where ever you go. But refined carbs tend to spike, then deplete, your serotonin levels giving you the equivalent of a sugar rush. So indulge a little if you must, but try to avoid overly sugary items and stick to healthier treats like dark chocolate or seasonal fruits. You can balance things out by eating more complex carbs and whole grains, root vegetables, beans, seeds and nuts, along with a little lean protein (turkey or fish) --all of which are serotonin-enhancing foods.
4. Boost your immune system with Vitamin D and C supplements, essential fatty acids and antioxidant-rich foods. If you're feeling unusually blue, you may be suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which is the result of a Vitamin D deficiency brought on by insufficient exposure to natural daylight. In addition to a Vitamin D supplement consider getting one of those light boxes to help boost your mood during the holidays and throughout the winter months. Green leafy foods, berries, and orange juice pack a punch to protect you from colds and flu. EFAs like Flaxseed or Hemp Seed can alleviate dry skin, hair, and nails; balance and regulate hormones and cholesterol; and help ease depression too.
5. Slow down. Take time to savor and enjoy the rituals of the season. Remember that time well spent with your loved ones is the greatest gift of all. But carve out some down time for yourself too. Do a little stretching or practice a little yoga every day. Stay present with yourself and everyone around you and practice forgiveness and acceptance of others as well as yourself. Learn to release your attachment to feelings of resentment or disappointment you have towards others (rather than suppressing them). This is the best way to diffuse the tension that can often come up at family or social gatherings. If you have trouble doing this, then ask yourself if your issue is really about the other person or about a deep unresolved fear or sadness that resides within you. There's something deeply satisfying and gratifying about sharing experiences with someone you care about. It builds and strengthens the bond between you. It can be something simple like taking them out for dinner and a movie, going to a concert, play, or sporting event together, or doing something more involved like spending a day hiking or exploring in nature, getting pampered at a Spa, a visit to the local museum, or volunteering for an event. The emphasis should be on togetherness --sharing the experience rather than just handing them a gift certificate or pair of tickets to something.
6. Reach out to others, especially those in need. With all its busyness and focus on family and social interaction, the holidays can magnify feelings of isolation or loneliness for those who can't be with family or don’t have family to be with. Do a volunteer shift or two at a local soup kitchen or toy drive. Helping others in need has a profoundly healing and uplifting effect, both physiological and psychological. Bringing joy to others can provide a sense of meaningful connection if you’re feeling left out and it helps you to appreciate how much you already have to be thankful and happy for.
7. Surround yourself with uplifting and nurturing sounds and smells. Two of the fastest ways to raise your vibrational frequency (which is low when you're sick or stressed out) are listening to music and using essential oils. Listen to music that you love or that soothes you as often as possible. As for essential oils, citrus oils are the most effective for alleviating depression and improving your mood, especially grapefruit, orange, tangerine, and lime (oils typically extracted from the rind of the fruit). More expensive but also effective are oils extracted from the orange blossoms, stems, and leaves of the citrus trees such as bergamot, petitgrain, and neroli.
Many of the smells associated with the holidays can be uplifting as well –the scent of a live Christmas tree or fresh cut wreath, the mulling spices from cider or the comforting smell of baked goods. All of these can be created with essential oils of pine, fir, juniper, cedarwood, clove, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. If you need relief from stress or seek to create a sense of peace and calm try lavender, which blends well with cedarwood or any of the "tree" oils.
Put a few drops of any oil or blend of oils in a diffuser or potpourri burner or in a cup of Epsom salts and add to a nice hot bath. Make a lovely spritzer by adding 15 drops of any essential oil or combination of oils to one ounce of purified water, or try one of our Aromatic Mister sprays.
Always keep a small bottle of aromatherapy product handy and pull it out and sniff it whenever you need a little booster. Rub a small amount into your palms, bring to your face and inhale deeply. Our Trial Size Lotions and Body Oils are perfect for this! Follow recommended safety guidelines if you're working with straight essential oils. You can find some on our blog.
Copyright 2009 Dropwise Essentials
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.
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Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.
