The one thing you need this December to home-educate in health

It can be hard to stay in health whilst home-educating during the winter. There may be less meet-ups and classes happening, less willingness to go out from family members, and more time spent indoors and on screens.

Sometimes this can be supportive of our cyclical need to hibernate and sometimes it can start to feel cabin-feverish.

It's the time of year when illness is rife and our things-to-do list is longer than usual with Christmas prep.

The added pressure, winter illnesses, less natural light, fresh air, movement and social interactions, as well as potentially more scope for family conflict can leave us feeling low in mood and energy.

Perhaps even longing to crawl into a dark cave to sleep the winter off.

Easy Does It

I won't tell you what the one thing is that you can do to home-educate in health this December. You can tell me.

What is the one thing that you need this winter?

What is it that you could do with this month? The absolute simplist thing you can do to support your well-being each day? What small thing would make all the difference?

Something to give you that mindful pause to re-centre and settle back into yourself. Breathe easy. Rest a little.

Make it Sticky

What will make this stick as a firm daily habit this month?

I always find that if I give it a name it makes it official. When our children were younger we used to have "Storytime before Teatime". We made a poster to stick up and used it as a gentle daily remedy for our end of day tiredness.

Trackers help; simply ticking off each day on the calendar, or creating a dedicated chart to stick up by the kettle.

It also helps to find a regular slot which will incorporate it nicely into your daily rhythm. A mobile phone reminder gives us the tech support until it becomes an automatic part of your day.

Experiment to see what works and remember to announce your intention to friends and family for clarity and accountability. They may even want to get in on it too!

Ten Top Suggestions

1. Walk

Take a daily stroll, or brisk circuit. Watch as nature changes as the cold draws in. Be in awe. Call it your Wonderland Walk.

2. Bath

Enjoy a blissful bath salt soak. Let your cares melt away along with all your muscle tension.

3. Read a book or List to a Story/Podcast

If you're a bookworm, find a daily slot to sink into another world or be inspired by words and stories that either touch you deeply or offer you that light relief.

4. Mindful tea break

Give yourself some thyme for tea, either a herbal nourisher, or time to just simply be.

5. Journal

Free write for 5 or 10 minutes. Have a go at some wild truth telling, or write what you see. Keep your pen moving allowing it to record your inner voice as it speaks. Lay aside judgement and be curious.

6. Morning prayer/intention/blessing/meditation/sun salutation

Doing this at the same time, same place with same words each day can make it a ritual that can ease you into your day with positivity. Incorporating some sort of movement or gesture will act to strengthen it.

7. Draw

Doodle or sketch, draw funny or festive pictures. Create festive bunting or Christmas cards. You could even create a draw-as-you-go advent calendar, adding a new picture to each new box of a DIY poster.

8. Dance &/or Sing

Just one song a day can make all the difference! Energising and settling the nervous system back into rest, digest and restore.

9. Craft

Cut out a snowflake-a-day and string up so that you have a months worth of beautiful white indoor snowflakes falling from your ceiling!

Crochet a small piece or line of an ongoing project. Perhaps 24 snowflakes to add onto gifts to add a special touch.

10. Festive foot massage

Grab the coconut oil and some festive essential oil scents. Pine, orange, clove, frankincense. Not only are our feet honoured for all that they do, but our sense of smell provides a direct line to our emotional brain, both soothing for the body, and taking under 10 minutes of our time!

What to Avoid

Definitely avoid picking a 'should'; "I should do X, Y, Z to give my health a boost". It's likely that you'll end up in dread with all sorts of avoidance tactics.

The trick is to pick something you love, something that nourishing. A sacred pause that feels like a gift and makes you smile.

And remember;

It's super important not to beat yourself up if you miss a day or two, (or three...). Just throw it right back in there as your daily dose of preventative medicine. Keeping you well so you can enjoy your children, and they can enjoy you!

If you'd like to explore working with me as a health coach, get in touch for a connection call. Together we can work out how I can best accompany you to winter wellness.

www.healthneedsthyme.co.uk