8 Health Tips From Our Resident Naturopath to Survive the Silly Season

When I was first asked to write this piece, I choked as spare time is non existent and with my crazy, chaotic rat race at the moment, I wasn’t sure I had anything useful advice to offer!

Let’s paint my picture – and this is the incredibly short version!

A ‘surprise’ kitchen renovation started 11 days ago and has not all gone well. I have boxes of crap everywhere, an inch of dust creating the un-refreshed hue and constant sneezing & wheezing, three dogs inside with the heat – spreading the love with the dust and an extra chook that unfortunately mine do not like but is now cohabiting with my friend in the granny flat (as I’m determined to return it alive). I have to paint the kitchen too (and trust me – I’m so much better sticking to my day job).

All of that on top of a 70 + hour working week and no end in sight until the 23^rd at 3pm when I will be in hiding for a couple of weeks. Oh and that’s right, Christmas is only a few sleeps away and I’m not at all ready for the onslaught nor do I feel festive in anyway. Phew!

However, tumbling down is NOT an option! I will keep soldiering on and keep focused on the moments watching my gorgeous son opening his pressies and the taste of the citrus and maple baked ham on the Weber that I cook and love every year.

So instead of preaching how to survive the silly season, I’m going to put a positive spin on and share with you what I am grateful for and the things that are keeping me sane… and upright!

[mc_block_title custom_title=”1. Coping Cordial”]

Thanks Banrock Station for providing a budget savvy, drinkable sauvignon blanc at a time of high expenditure (and it sure is making the warm evenings a little easier at the moment!)

[mc_block_title custom_title=”2. Cleansing Help”]

Thanks Oriental Botanicals for producing your Livaclean product. Just one dose morning and night is helping me cope with the increase in Banrock consumption and preventing me from feeling like a fat porky bloated piglet with the influx of takeaway and Christmas treats.

[mc_block_title custom_title=”3. Bouncy B”]

Thanks B Vitamins! For giving me some more bounce and for helping me to make some good happy brain chemicals, minimalising the risk of institutionalisation!

[mc_block_title custom_title=”4. Zany Zinc”]

Thanks Zinc. Along with your buddy Vitamin C (Ethical Nutrients Extra C Zingles), you are rocking my immune system and keeping me vertical. There is not a minute to be sick (nor feel sorry for myself).

[mc_block_title custom_title=”5. Must-have Magnesium”]

Thanks Wagner’s Magnesium Forte, the sexy sedative, calming mineral. Without you my nervous system shakes, my heart races and my emotional health flails. Just one morning and night lessens the chance of me blowing my stack (the crowd claps loudly).

[mc_block_title custom_title=”6. Fresh Airways”]

Thanks Fess Frequent Flyer Spray for flushing out the dust bunnies out of my nostrils and keeping my sinuses clean and infection free.

[mc_block_title custom_title=”7. Calming Botanicals”]

Once again, thanks Oriental Botanicals for your Anxiolift – just two tabs twice a day (7am and 4pm) is taking the edge off the panic feelings and lessening the desire for a stiff drink!

[mc_block_title custom_title=”8. The Most Important Things Aren’t Things”]

Look to your external support systems, however they may appear.

I am grateful for my beautiful friends who keep me sane in general. They know who they are. They are there to help at any minute, even more so during stressful times.

My beautiful Son and my beautiful Mum rock my world. Without them, I would be only half a person. I’m looking forward to sharing my maple ham and my homemade Kahlua Xmas Puddings (maybe with a slight dust flavor as hanging in the rumpus room ) with them both on Xmas day. I may even lash out on Shaw & Smith!

So, whilst it is the season to be jolly, it is also the season for madness and a time to take it a little bit (emotionally) gentler on ourselves. We are however, all just HUMAN. If you live your life where most of the time you do the right thing, then for a few small weeks the body can cope with that maple ham, that Kahlua Xmas pud, the later nights, the seemingly endless social catch-ups and of course, the extra Banrock.

So the moral of this mad article is to give you permission to indulge, to laugh and to do whatever it takes to get you through.