The Only Guide You Need To Prepare Your Body For The New Year

The great news is that stress is a reaction, and even though it sometimes doesn’t feel like it, we all have the power to choose how to react to any situation. Here are my top nine tips for choosing to stay chill, calm, connected, and glowing through the holidays so you can start 2018 with a bang:

By practicing acceptance and forgiveness, life can become so much more joyful. Being in a state of resentment, anger, or frustration can put us in a tense state that ramps up our adrenals and stress levels instantly. Instead, choose to forgive and accept your family and the dynamics involved, and you’ll feel instantly lighter and calmer, which will make the holidays so much more enjoyable.

As a nice bonus, breathing expansively boosts metabolism and increases oxygen flow. It’s also a great way to hit the pause button on any stress reaction you might be feeling and taking a moment to truly be in the moment.

Mentally unplugging can dramatically impact your mindset, and we know that meditating has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and release tension. Remember, it’s not complicated—just close your eyes, focus on your breath, and you’re doing it. Here’s a quick meditation I swear by.

Here’s a great sequence for rolling for stress, or you can check out my mbg restorative foam-rolling course here.

Using a rebounder is one of the best forms of aerobic exercises out there because it’s low impact, burns fat, and it stimulates your lymphatic system to help flush toxins. Plus, it’s fun—so hop on and bounce any holiday worries away. My favorite rebounder is the bellicon. Give it a try!

"Earthing," or going barefoot, helps ground you while also helping to nourish your body with electromagnetic energy directly through the soles of your feet. Research shows that going barefoot has the ability to calm and center you and even reduces tension and inflammation. It may also help you sleep better, reduce stress and pain, and increase immunity.

Taking a supplement can have a huge impact when you want to ease stress and support a healthy immune system, replenish your brain and rebalance your nervous system. My favorite vitamin to help me stay calm and nourished is the Rainbow Light Vibrance PLUS Stress Support. This supplement includes B vitamins and magnesium to support a healthy stress response. It also contains an antioxidant called selenium (found in Brazil nuts) that helps to reduce anxiety and depression and can even improve your mood. In addition, it has probiotics, prebiotics, and plant-sourced digestive enzymes to help ease digestion and promote gut health.

Every night when you sit down to eat a meal, it’s helpful to establish a ritual of focusing on three things you are grateful for in your life. If you’re dining with friends or family, take it one step further and talk about those things. It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel once you start to focus on the good in your life, and the "stress" of life starts to fade away.

Want more ideas for how to stay calm during the holidays? Here's a meditation that will help with that.