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It’s the holiday season, truly one of my most favorite times of the year. My boys are home more for the next few weeks, our basement couch gets more use with football games & movie nights, dinners aren’t such a rush to prepare, it’s simply the best.
 

 
But this season can also cause a lot of stress with lots of events on the calendar, parties & get togethers, holiday shopping, travel, you name it!
 
So if you’re someone who finds yourself running around and in survival mode much of the next few weeks, I challenge you to SLOW DOWN. I know, I know - easier than it sounds, right?? I get it!! 
I’m a mom with a busy career and work to keep up with all the things too - BUT I know when I’m calmer & more at ease, my family is too :)
 
Benefits of slowing down:
  1. Reduced stress & anxiety - allowing you to find peace
  2. Increased clarity - focus on what truly matters
  3. Improved relationships - nurture meaningful connections
  4. Enhanced creativity - make space for inspiration
Here are a few tips or ideas to help you take a little extra time & enjoy the seasonal slow down:
Your morning routine is the rudder for your day, so before you dive into social media or catch up on emails, give yourself a few moments of stillness to start your day! I love the Peloton app for quick morning meditations with a gentle stretch before my workouts or when I need a quick mental reset, but I also find so much peace & solace when I’m going through my daily bible reading {if you don’t have The Bible Recap app yet, it’s amazing!!}
Set aside device-free hours & disconnect to reconnect! Now that it’s darker earlier and football practices are ending, the hours that my boys are both home together are really special. 
It’s been fun to try some different recipes since we’re not so rushed at mealtimes, spend a little more time at the dinner table, and all the holiday movies are streaming again so it’s the perfect chance to ditch our phones for a bit and connect!
Bundle up and schedule daily strolls in nature. I LOATHE being cold, it’s truly one of my least favorite things LOL but lucky for me I sell the most amazing winter gear in my shop that always have me warm & toasty even during our Colorado snow days! Fresh air is so good for the soul and is such a great reminder of gratitude that we get to move our bodies.
Focus on the essential tasks and leave white space for the rest. I am a HUGE proponent of boundaries and saying yes to less especially this time of year! It’s ok to not be able to attend everything or have the perfect magazine-inspired holiday decorations. Let’s normalize being HUMAN rather than SUPERHUMAN during the holiday season and enjoy prioritizing our peace.
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I wanted to share a few books that I’m loving in this slower season and maybe you will too!!
“Slow Living” by Stephanie O’Dea, “Holy Hygge” by Jamie Erickson, “Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World” by Brooke McAlary, and “The More of Less” by Joshua Becker.
 

 
 Let me help you take the stress out of the holidays with easy gift ideas & stocking stuffers! I love designing custom ZYIA Active gift certificates based on your budget {perfect for printing and wrapping!!}. 
 

 
 
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