2020 has been a royal pain in the a$$, and it can be easy to fall into the pit of low vibes and negative thoughts. Remember that spark of creativity we all felt at the start of the pandemic? Well it’s died a slow death, and now people are feeling more tired and disconnected than ever. I’ve even found myself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions and wanting to crawl into a hole and scream at times. The truth is, COVID fatigue is at an all-time high - meaning people are going stir crazy at the thought of having to be socially distanced for even a minute longer, let alone the entire Holiday season.

With Coronavirus spiking in parts of the country and political tensions running high, I think it’s safe to say that the Holiday’s will be one for the history books - something we’ve never quite experienced. But the thing is….we’re resilient. If we’ve been able to make it this far, we can certainly get through the rest of this year. And I’m going to ask you to do one better than just survive 2020. That’s right. What I’m asking you to do is to take your power back and say YES to making these next few weeks count.

If you’re in, check out these 5 STRATEGIES to help you not only survive the Holidays, but THRIVE during these last few week’s of 2020.

STEP 1: CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF, FEEL YOUR FEELINGS, & CONSCIOUSLY CREATE A SHIFT

It’s so easy to run through the motions of work, mom-duties, or whatever else you’re responsible for in this new normal and then turn to Netflix or booze to numb out. But when you don’t allow yourself to feel your feelings and release them, they end up sticking with you and that stagnant energy builds up physical and emotional tensions. If you’re feeling irritable or angry right now, that’s often a mask for a deeper routed grief, anxiety or worry that’s been building up. So check in with yourself ahead of the Thanksgiving Holiday, and connect with what you’re feeling and WHY.

Are you feeling disconnected, lonely, bored, overwhelmed, stressed? Or are you feeling hopeful, relaxed, patient, even joyful? There’s no right or wrong way to feel. The important thing is that you stay connected to your emotions so that YOU can control them - not the other way around. Cry it out if you need to. Call a friend to talk about what’s coming up for you. Write it down in your journal if that helps. Just make sure you’re feeling your feelings. And then when you’re ready to release them, declare what you WANT to feel. Whatever it is that you desire - maybe it’s joy or connection - consider who you get to be in order to feel that way. How can you show up in a way that has you experiencing more of those feel-good vibes? What are some things you can do to create more joy in this new normal? Do more of those things and really lean into embodying those feel-good emotions to raise your vibe.

STEP 2: ADD FEEL-GOOD EMOTIONS BY SETTING A FOUNDATION OF GRATITUDE

Gratitude and joy go hand in hand. In fact, gratitude is the highest state of consciousness that one can have. Rather than considering all that you’re missing right now, what if you considered deepening your relationship with all that you DO have?

Here are a few simple ways you can start laying the foundation:

• Make time to connect deeply with your loved ones, even if from a distance. Talk about the things that you value and have meaningful conversation about issues that are important to you.

• Reach out to someone who has made a difference in your life and let them know why you appreciate them.

• Create a support network of people who will lift you up when you’re having a rough day and/or when you need honest feedback.

• Look around your immediate surroundings right now and find 5 things you’re grateful for. Consider how they arrived in that place and why you feel a sense of appreciation for having them.

• Make a list of 25 things that make you smile. I bet by the end of your list, you’ll find yourself smiling!

• Join a Gratitude Challenge! I have a great 10-Day Challenge that creates space for deep reflection and positivity. Contact me for details if you’re interested.

Now that you have a few ideas of things you can do right now to spark gratitude, think about what kind of gratitude practice fits into your daily routine. Start simple, like considering three things you’re grateful for before you even step out of bed each morning. Or maybe you want to establish a 5-10 minute journal practice before going to bed every night.

You can be grateful for all that you DO have and still strive for more. When your perspective is led by abundance rather than lack, you attract more of what you already have. Setting a solid foundation gratitude is going to support you in building upon those feel-good emotions throughout the day, week, month, and year.

STEP 3: MANAGE STRESS, ANXIETY & LOW VIBES WITH PHYSICAL MOVEMENT

Some people have an icky relationship with “exercise.” But what if you considered any sort of movement a positive step in the right direction? Especially in the beginning! Spending at least 20 minutes a day on moderate movement is key for longevity, weight management, cognitive function and mood improvement. Whether you’re cleaning the house, throwing yourself a dance party in the kitchen or going for a brisk walk - commit to getting started today and move your body in any way you can.

For the next few days, pay attention to the time of day in which you feel most energized. Then, depending on your schedule and your peak energy period, create an action plan to tackle things like house chores and daily fitness. Carve out a 20-30 minute block each day on your calendar to start, and if that’s not possible with your busy schedule then break it down into two 15 minute workouts throughout the day. Make it a part of your regular routine and schedule it in at the same times every week to support the development of a new healthy habit.

If you find yourself getting off-track at any point, don’t beat yourself up. Until we take our power back and create a conscious shift, our minds will always want to choose the least painful route. Notice what you’re making more important than creating the change you say you want. What’s going to serve you more in lifting your mood, feeling lighter or in getting closer to your goals?

Remember: Change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.

Once you find a form of movement you enjoy, plan to stretch yourself periodically, pushing yourself to do better and go further than you did before. Let 2020 be the year you raise your vibe and get your body moving again.

STEP 4: DEVELOP A REALISTIC STRATEGY TO EAT WELL OVER THE HOLIDAYS

It’s the holiday season - aka the most wonderful time of year. And let’s face it, you’re probably going to eat some things you normally don’t. And that’s okay! If you want to ensure you don’t derail your accomplishments and/or goals, develop a strategy in advance that will keep you on target. And don’t deprive yourself. Think about what’s realistic, what you’re comfortable with, and choose to stick to the plan.

When it comes to eating well for the Holiday’s, consider the following tips:

• When building your plate, start with the foods that nourish your body best, like protein, non-starchy veggies and healthy fats. Then add of small taste of your favorite trappings in moderation.

• Don’t be wasteful. Start out with a regular sized portion that you’d eat any other time of the year. Once you’ve finished your first serving, notice whether or not you’re full before going up for seconds. I think we can both agree that there’s no point in stuffing yourself to the point of feeling ill. We’ve all done it, and it never feels good.

• Eat slowly and mindfully. Take time to thoroughly chew your food and savor the tastes and smells of all you eat. Eating slowly supports digestion and will help you feel fuller, faster. While you’re eating, mindfully experience gratitude for all it took to bring this meal in front of you - the farm, the animal, the trucker, the person who prepared the meal, the love that went into the preparation, and so on.

• Certain foods make you feel energized, while others may make you feel sick and can even interrupt your sleeping patterns - especially if you haven’t eaten them in a while or you know that you have a sensitivity. Intuitively, you likely already know which foods do your body more harm than good. Focus on eating the things that make you feel good and plan to minimize sugar-laden foods/drinks. You know your vices, so acknowledge how much is too much and be reasonable.

• Get familiar with the menu in advance and plan to bring some healthy dishes/desserts you know you’ll enjoy should you have any concerns. Let the hostess know in advance if you have any sensitivities or restrictions. And if you choose to bring a dish of your own, make sure there’s enough to go around.

Ultimately, the Holiday’s add up to just a few days of temptation. Don’t beat yourself up if you have a setback. No matter what happens, you always have the choice to re-commit to your goals. Eating healthy is a lifestyle choice that you can choose to begin at any time you want.

STEP 5: SPREAD LOVE AND CHEER BY STAYING CONNECTED WITH LOVED ONES & GIVING TO THOSE IN NEED

Lord knows that if you’re feeling a certain way about 2020, than others are probably feeling the same. Check in with the people you would normally spend the Holiday’s with and ask them how they’re doing. Here are some helpful conversation starters to deepen your relationships if you feel like you have nothing new to say…

• What happened this year that you’re grateful for?

• What’s your Love Language? (take the quiz here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/)

• If you had an hour of free time right now, how would you spend it?

• If you could take a trip anywhere in the world with anyone, where would you go and who would you take?

• What are you looking forward to for next year?

Listen attentively to their responses and share what’s coming up for you. There’s nothing wrong with being honest about how you’re feeling or what you need - especially when in the company of trusted loved ones.

You can even take it a step further by setting up a fun-themed family zoom so you remain connected with those who can’t make the Holiday dinner party this year. Think ugly Christmas sweaters, festive hats, holiday onesies and more! Consider what you can do to spread love and cheer virtually.

And once you’ve spread cheer to your close knit friends and fam, think about what you can do (if you’re able) to give to those in need. Here are a few ideas: support a local canned food or toy drive, shop with small businesses, or give what you can to charities doing meaningful work. Remember that where focus goes, energy flows. If you want to receive joy and cheer, then give it to others first!

I hope these five strategies support you in making the best of these next few weeks. If all else fails, consider working directly with a Coach to establish lasting and positive change. As an IIN Certified Holistic Health Coach, I help clients create a single-pointed focus toward the goals they want to accomplish and provide personalized recommendations and resources that can be easily integrated into their lifestyles.

Want to learn more? Sign up for a free 50-min Discovery Call to learn if my six-month program is right for you. Or schedule a single "‘Back on Track’ Coaching Session to jumpstart change today.