My sister, her family and I reunited in Ocala, Florida after our mother’s passing in November. When we have family in town, our routines undoubtedly change.
We participated in so many fun activities at the World Equestrian Center in the evenings on Friday and Saturday. The entire family had a meal at Stone Creek Grill Golf Club on Saturday afternoon and attended Church service on Sunday morning. It was quite hectic yet memorable and fun.
We did have unexpected changes in schedule (e.g., a quick run to McDonalds with our seven-year-old twins). Changes in schedule keeps life interesting. Having family in town is priceless, no doubt in my mind.
When preparing for a special weekend, keep in mind about the potential changes in schedule that may throw us ‘off’ from our healthy rhythms that promote wellness. Life happens and time runs faster than expected!
I am learning ‘how to’ maintain quality of life with Hashimoto Thyroiditis and planning ahead is key. Creating ‘anchors’ or habits help us keep up with daily rhythms of wellness.
These are the most important anchors when managing an autoimmune condition in a fast-paced, Holiday season. Anchors such as: Hydration, Sleep hygiene practices, Supplement/Medication intake, Movement, Stress Management, and Diet.
Yes! The ‘diet’ anchor is a tricky one …
Tips:
a) Set up an alarm on the phone to remind yourself about hydration, every hour.
b) Pacing is key. Do not multitask. Keep it simple.
c) We do not have to participate in all activities. For instance, I chose to meet my family a couple of hours after their arrival to the hotel. They were able to get acquainted with the World Equestrian Center while I was taking a hot shower then relaxed in my living room while hubby was finishing up with work.
d) Set up another alarm on the phone for supplements and/or medication intake. Yikes! I forgot to take my Omega 3 one of the evenings.
e) Make a healthy choice and determine what time is a reasonable time for bedtime. It may be a bit later than our daily routine and that is okay. It is also alright to be excused earlier than expected. Since I no longer drink alcohol due to Hashimoto and cellular inflammation, I skipped the evening drinks.
f) Take healthy snacks on-the-go and a refillable water bottle to hydrate.
g) When eating at a local restaurant, make healthy choices (low in carbohydrates, gluten-free is preferable).
h) Enjoy movement! I was able to take so many additional steps tracked by my smart watch.
i) If feeling tired or drained, it is okay to excuse yourself and catch up with the rest of the family a bit later.
j) Since fast-paced holiday events cause additional stress, I plan to start taking
L-Theanine Max supplement mid-day to reduce the adverse impact of acute stress in my body moving forward and continue using the Copa-Calm Essential Oil Blend spray from Jordan Essentials (Rhythms4Wellness.JordanEssentials.com) to relax throughout the day.
Rhythms 4 Wellness 