We're entering the most stressful time of the year. Add the world events over the past few months and the potential for stress-related problems increases dramatically. The following are some tips to help you navigate this season in good shape:

• 1. Focus on quality rather than quantity. Don't try and do everything. Priorities have changed for a lot of us over the past 3 months and most of that is good. Now is the time to focus on our faith, loving ourselves and others, and being thankful for the blessings we have.
  
  
• 2. Spend some time outside each day no matter the weather. Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD), a condition where depression increases during the darkest time of the year, affects a large number of people in our area. Spending some time daily in natural light, even when it's raining, helps your mood.
  
  
• 3. Exercise regularly. Exercise is the most effective strategy for combating depression.
  
  
• 4. Eat healthy. Fill up on healthy snacks at social gatherings (fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains). Try drinking a full glass of water before eating a goodie. You'll feel already full and will only eat for the taste.
  
  
• 5. Drink plenty of water. The chances of getting dehydrated increases during winter. Drink at least 8 to 10 full glasses of room temperature or warmer water per day (cold water can be hard on our bodies).
  
  
• 6. Get plenty of rest. Because there's so much to do, it's easy to cut back on sleep to get those extra things done. Not being rested leads to higher incidences of flus, colds, and other infections. If you can work it into your schedule, take short naps in the afternoon.
  
  
• 7. Lend a helping hand. Freud said the best way to get our minds off our own problems is to help someone else with theirs. To give special meaning to your holiday, consider helping others. Run an errand for a neighbor, volunteer at the local food bank, donate to a charity.
  
  
• 8. Nurture yourself. This is the time of year when we do so much for others that we forget ourselves. Give the most important person in your life (yourself!) a gift this year - a weekend retreat, massage or reiki session, bubble bath, walk in the woods.

For more information about other health topics, call me.