Thriving Through the Silly Season

How I use the 8 pillars of wellness framework to grow joy in the weeks leading up to the big day.

In just under 8 weeks, the one day of the year that can incite both excitement and dread will be upon us. Shortly the madness will begin to hit and you’ll be running from parties to prize givings to shopping queues and attempting to finish those projects and to do lists at work and home.

It's one of my favourite times of the year but I've also learnt that I need to be in a good space otherwise it can quickly become my least favourite time of the year and I can find myself regressing into a victim, suffering enormous FOMO and being so in my head that I miss the great things happening in the moment. I've also learnt that a little planning and focus now enables the joy to flow and the stress and anxiety to disappear. Its about wellness and wellness for me is a sign that I’m living a life that I actively participate and thrive in.

The 8 pillars of wellness is a framework that I’ve used for over five years now and it has been a wonderful tool to help guide, reflect and ensure that this wellness journey keeps moving in a positive direction. Reality is that this is something I always have to be conscious about and work on - kinda shit when you first realise this but after a while the work you put in is also a source of joy. I promise.

The number of pillars can change and there are plenty of frameworks you can find online, but I've found using 8 seems to work for me.

What works for one of us won’t necessarily be the same for another so always be prepared to give things a go and then tweak to get what works for you.

The 8 pillars I use consist of

• Physical

• Emotional

• Financial

• Occupational

• Spiritual

• Intellectual

• Social

• Environmental

Each week I'll be focusing on one of the pillars and this week it's Physical - this relates to nutrition, exercise, sleep and hygiene. We all know what supports our wellness in this area but this time of year with parties on the up, excess drinking and overeating and inconsistent sleep habits due to late nights squeezing everything in, its the pillar that can be crushed so by the time the 25th December comes around I'm exhausted and in no space to find joy.

With all the eating out/ party food I try and avoid thinking about food as good or bad and start thinking about food as a source to nourish my body. It’s not about the six pack or being size whatever. It's about providing this one and only vehicle I have been given to get me through this life, with as much goodness as possible.

Feed your body the nourishment it needs to do the tasks you want to achieve, rather than measuring its gravitational pull.

Rather than focusing on what I shouldn’t have, I focus on how to consume more of what works for me. I'm honing the skill to listen to my body - it tells me through its energy levels, bloating and skin reactions whether I'm on the right track or not.

This weeks focus

To help set me up for the silly season, this week I’ll be focusing on the items below to put me in the best position to thrive right to the end of the year and have the ability to grow joy everyday as I do it;

• Drink water every day - at least four glasses, ideally eight

• Move my body everyday - aiming for 30 minutes minimum everyday. Some days this will be walking or biking and other days will just be dancing in the bathroom by myself with the music loud- just doing it and having fun.

• Treating my body like a temple and keeping it clean and shiny everyday. I will also be trying really, really hard, to be present - like in the moment present for this. Mind, body and soul focused on the task, in the now.

• Use food to nourish not reward or comfort.

• Be kind - to myself and to others

• Keep regular bedtime and wake time.

If I spend this week doing this I'll know I'll be in a great space to create a holiday season that will be full of joy.

What are some of the things that support your physical pillar?

What are some of the reasons that stop you from doing what you need to?

How do you ensure the holiday season is going to be a good one?

Let us know in the comments or send me a note - I love learning from others and discovering new things. Together we can all create a life we actively participate and thrive in.

Nadine xx