Can you believe we are already halfway through November and almost at the end of 2021? I sure can’t! I feel like this time of year is like a strange time warp – the weekdays can inch by so slowly because of the anticipation of taking time off and celebrating the holidays with family and friends. While the weekends zoom by with getting all of my ‘holiday prep’ done. So this week, we are talking about a few tips for living your best life this holiday season.

One thing I think most of us can agree on is that the time we spend with family and friends this holiday season is really important to us. From being present to getting good sleep, here are 3 ways you can continue living your best life this holiday season.

Prioritize sleep

As the days get shorter, it feels like there’s less time to get all of the things we need to do done so we stay up late and ultimately, our sleep suffers. If you feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all and get good sleep try these tips to make it easier:

• Try out a sleep schedule by setting aside no more than eight hours for sleep – the recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult is at least seven hours. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. (Try to limit the difference in your sleep schedule on weeknights and weekends to no more than one hour.) 
• Eat dinner at least two hours before going to sleep. This will give your body a chance to digest before you fall asleep, resulting in higher quality sleep.
• Create a restful environment by turning your bedroom into a cave – cool, dark and quiet. Most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 19.4 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep. Invest in some black out curtain of a sleeping mask to make it extra dark.
• Do calming activities before bedtime, such as taking a bath, reading, or using relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or a sleep meditation.

Laugh out loud

The holidays can be a stressful time. Combat them with a good laugh! 

I’m serious! It is scientifically proven that laughter is a great form of stress relief. When you laugh you are not only lightening your mental load but also inducing physical changes in your body like stimulating your heart, lungs, and muscles and increasing endorphins that are released by your brain. 

“Endorphins make you happy” – Elle Woods

Laughing activates and relieves your stress response, increasing and then decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure resulting in a relaxed feeling. Additionally laughter can stimulate circulation and aid in muscle relaxation which tend to be the most common physical symptoms of stress. 

Next time you are feeling stressed out this holiday season or just want to chillax put on one of your favorite holiday movies that always makes you laugh or try one of these popular movies that millions of people laugh out loud to every year:

• Jingle All the Way
• Funny People
• A Christmas Story
• Love Actually
• Home Alone
• Office Christmas Party
• Elf
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• Bad Santa
• Noelle

Let a huge smile creep across your face – your nervous system will thank you for it! Find more movie ideas here.

Be present

Let your presence be your present.

Okay, hear me out. We all love presents but some of the best memories of my life are laughing and being fully engaged with my friends. It’s a simple concept but with all the distractions that exist in the world today it can also be really hard to put into practice.

When you are visiting with friends this holiday season and you’re all sitting around make a point to put your phone away. Keep it in your coat pocket or leave it in the car. Instead of picking up your phone when there’s silence, challenge yourself to ask your friend questions that you might not have ever asked them before. Be fully engaged in the conversation. You’ll both feel great because you will have learned something new about each other and spent quality time together – without your phones! 

Here are some unique question ideas to get you started:

• What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
• What’s something you’re embarrassed to admit you love?
• What’s the most useful talent you have?
• What was the last thing you did for the first time?

Looking for more tips to live your best life? Check out some of our other blogs about reducing stress, practicing mindfulness, and what to do when you’re nearing burnout. 

At the Best Life Coach Collective, we are all about living our best lives all year round! If you’re currently facing some challenges and would like some one on one attention and good conversation, check out our coaches. They would love to help make the rest of your year the best yet. Our Coaches specialize in many different topics and facets of life. Check them out here and find the best life coach that’s right for you!

What else do you plan to do to keep living your best life this holiday season? Leave a comment below or tell us about it over on our Instagram.

Did you try one of these living your best life this holiday season tips out? Get in touch or DM us and tell us about it!