Here are a few tips to help us not completely lose our good, healthy choices this season. We can enjoy the season, and still keep some of our routine intact. We just have to be intentional and aware as we move through the season. Let us enjoy the season, while we still take care of ourselves.

Challenge: Take a few minutes this week to be intentional and prepare for your health this holiday season.

Resources: Prayer

Life will constantly give us problems. We grow when we problem solve, and not just react. It isn’t easy, but with practice, we get better. One step at a time. One week at a time. One day at a time. Don’t jump too far forward. That will stress and overwhelm you. Just take the next best step right now.

Challenge: You can be calm in the storm. Just think, next step.

Many of us are. We have too much coming at us every day.

Rest, breaks, relaxing, slowing down, are all ok. They are not lazy.

Not responding immediately. Not scrolling to see what is happening with everyone else is ok.

It seems the world has made us think that whatever we have, we do, or we are is never enough.

I am here to tell you that you are already enough. Everything else is extra.

My experience has shown me over and over again.

Joy comes from the simple things.

Stop chasing the worldly distractions, and embrace what is right in front of you. God. The day. Your home. Your family. Yourself. The present. Nature. Outside. Being able to drive your kids somewhere. Being able to parent your kids through hard times. Navigating their ups and downs. You were given that role. It is a blessing.

If you don’t believe me…back off of social media. Say no to anything that doesn’t shout hell yeah this week. Smell the flowers. Sit in the sunshine. Walk through the grass. Take a deep breath. Call your mom. Or dad, if you can. Hug your family.

The only way to true JOY is through God and living in the present. Embracing what you have.

**Challenge: **Seek out JOY and simple God given blessings this week

Resources:

An extremely relatable analogy was shared with me this week, and I think you can relate as well. How do you respond when life gets hard? What spills out of your heart and mouth? I received this in perfect timing, as I was feeling that deep mom exhaustion. I was frustrated with most of what got in my way. I realized after reading the analogy, that I was not filling my cup with the best choices. I was off track, and I needed to get back on immediately.

Challenge: Start filling your cup and taking care of yourself right now.

Resources: Journals

This is not to minimize fitness and exercise, because they will always be such important health choices. But these simple shifts to your life can make all the difference.

Prayer, nature, guilt, grace, sleep and letting go of other people’s opinions are a few to start. Please listen in and bring more peace and calm into your life today.

Challenge: Pick one of these choices to start this week.

Resources: Journals

After spending nearly 27 years in the pharmaceutical industry learning about traditional medicine, Stacey Millhorn faced her own battle with chronic pain, including migraines and muscle/joint pain. Despite being prescribed various medications and undergoing physical therapy, she struggled with side effects and sought alternatives.

Her search led her to Pilates, but it was discovering infrared sauna and float therapy at [Pure Sweat + Float Studio](www.puresweatstudios.com) in Nashville that truly transformed her health. Regular sessions helped ease her pain, improve her sleep, and boost her mood. After moving to Utah and unable to find a similar experience, Stacey seized the opportunity to bring the Pure Sweat Studios franchise to Utah. The first location opened in Park City in May 2023, followed by South Jordan in November 2023.

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Let us stop seeing exhaustion, skipping lunch, no breaks, never getting outside, working late hours, working weekends, etc as status symbols.

It is time you stand up and know that you are worth taking care of yourself and your family.

Let’s not let this continue with the next generation.

Make rest, exercise, and time in nature the new status symbol.

**Takeaway: **You are worth it, so take time to take care of yourself and your health.

Challenge: Make one good change this week.

Resources:

We spend way too much time in worry, over thinking, drama, and more. Pay attention to what you can control and what you can’t. Stop spending time on what you can’t control.

Takeaway: Stop spending time on things that are out of your control and not productive.

Challenge: Practice letting go, moving on, and just letting some things be.

Resources:

The world will constantly rush you, pressure you, and pull you from God and calm in your life and day. You have to choose to step away from the crazy and create some space in your day. This will help bring you closer to God, bring calm in your heart, and add peace to your day. We will always have challenges and hard days, but when we have God, we can still be calm in our heart and know that we will be ok.

Takeaway: Regardless of what is going on in your life, you can have calm in your heart.

Challenge: Be intentional this week about creating space in your day so that you can have more peace in your heart.

Quote: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31

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