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Do you get stressed at Thanksgiving? Consider deliberately being grateful and watch the stress fade away with our 7 SteamTherapy tips for giving thanks:
Thanksgiving: the Gratitude Holiday
Thanksgiving is the ultimate celebration of thankfulness for all of the good things in life. It's a holiday where the focus is on gathering together from near and far to recognize and appreciate the modern day equivalent of a bountiful harvest that was celebrated during the first Thanksgiving.
Paradoxically, this season of gratefulness can quickly be lost to stress. Perhaps we get so distracted in pursuit of the perfect Thanksgiving that we lose perspective and forget about its purpose. We're here to help you regain perspective and overcome any holiday-related stress with the following 7 SteamTherapy wellness tips focused on being grateful.
Be Thankful and Become Stress-Free This Thanksgiving!
Giving thanks is good for the soul and the body, according to the Greater Good Science Center at Berkley University. In fact, you might even want to consider keeping a gratitude journal so you don't take for granted all the good that happens to you.
For that reason, our SteamTherapy wellness tips for Thanksgiving focus on gratitude and appreciation for the often overlooked sources of joy, support, comfort and balance that most of us take for granted.
1. Be Thankful for Family
Family may be demanding and may even drive you crazy at times. However, most times family is there when you need it. E.C. LaMeaux, in “8 Reasons to be Grateful” of Life.Gaiam.com, an online guide to better living, says,
“If you’re one of those whose family loves and supports you, consider yourself lucky and be grateful. Feel thankful and express that gratefulness if you are lucky enough to have family who is more like friends”.
2. Be Thankful for Friends
As with family, appreciate your friends. And if they join you and family for Thanksgiving, be sure to enjoy the company. Take the time periodically in the midst of the decorating, cooking and cleaning to actually spend time with those who have come to visit and spend time with you.
3. Be Thankful for Home Sweet Home
Whether small or large, home is special. It's where you can relax and be yourself. It's where you are safe.
And, yet, many don't have a place to call home. Although homelessness has decreased throughout 2014 due to efforts all across America to increase the number of shelters and decrease poverty, the National Alliance to End Homelessness Research Institute reports in The State of Homelessness in America 2014 that 610,042 are still without a permanent home. Imagine not having a warm bed at night in a home of your own.
4. Be Thankful for Food
Did you know that for Thanksgiving 2013 - according to the United States Census Bureau in Thanksgiving Day 2013 stats from the United States Census Bureau - approximately 242 million turkeys were raised in the U.S, 768 million pounds of cranberries produced and 2.6 billion pounds of sweet potatoes grown.
To put things in perspective, FeedingAmerica.org in Poverty and Food Insecurity Fact Sheet reported that 49.1 million people lived in food-insecure households. Be thankful for the feast you enjoy every day!
5. Be Thankful for Water
Water is a basic human necessity we require to stay hydrated and clean. Clean water is a source nearly 780 million around the world do not have access to according to Water.org in Millions lack safe water. And in the United States, the drought monitor highlights how serious the water situation is.
No matter how bountiful your access to water, be sure to take steps to conserve so no drop is wasted. (BTW, This Old House considers steam a "green way to bathe" given how little water it requires.)
6. Be Thankful for Information
You may complain of information overload. At the same time, be grateful for how easy it is to find helpful advice - from how to cook a turkey to how to deal with the holidays! For example, Abcnews.go.com in Your Stress-Free Thanksgiving Timeline: What to Do as the Holiday Approaches offers valuable tips for planning ahead to better manage cooking times throughout the holiday.
7. Be Thankful for the Great Outdoors
When the kitchen becomes overwhelmingly crowded and all the baking is set on a timer, take a brief walk alone. Get the blood flowing, enjoy the cool air and peace and quiet while you can recharge your batteries for the next round of pies. HuffingtonPost.com in 20 Scientifically-Backed Ways To De-Stress Right Now discusses how a walk is a great way to “clear your head [and] boost endorphins, which in turn reduces stress hormones.”
Two Bonus Tips for Tackling Holiday Stress Head On!
If you're practicing gratefulness and still need some hardcore anti-stress guidance, here are two for you:
1. Breathe Deeply
If you find yourself overwhelmed, take a minute to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths before battling the next set of courses and conversation. According to WebMD.com Stress Management: Breathing Exercises for Relaxation,
“Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax.”
2. Introduce Wellness and the Benefits of Steam into your Life
Steam benefits are nothing new. Steam has been part of wellness and relaxation rituals for centuries for good reason. Consider deepening your feelings of thankfulness as you relax and de-stress with steam. Whether in your Mr.Steam steam shower, the local steam sauna or a homemade steam for the face (see How to Steam your Face: SteamTherapy Tips), you'll feel better after a session with steam to remove toxins, relax your muscles and calm the mind. (Here's how to get started: Steam Bathing 101: Seven Steps For an Effective Steam Bath.)
You may enjoy reading 5 Tips for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving From Mr.Steam for additional inspiration.
Wishing You the Most Thankful Thanksgiving Ever!
As you think about what you are grateful for, you may find that you appreciate more and stress less. We hope we've inspired you to be always thinking of what you are thankful for.
Thank you for reading the SteamTherapy Blog. May your Thanksgiving Holiday be relaxing and filled with even more to be grateful for!
