Goodbye 2020, Welcome 2021! Despite the difficult year that 2020 had been, we are all looking forward with great optimism for a better year ahead. As we often do, so many of us start to make “New Year’s resolutions” to start new habits and create a “better you”. However, it is important to give yourself grace and rather than create a resolution to begin something new, I encourage you to find some balance.
Even the most basic habits become out of whack during the holiday season and when stress levels increase. Habits such as poor sleep patterns, bad food choices and higher levels of stress and anxiety can cause anyone to feel unwell. As a result, many people create resolutions that are quite unrealistic, especially relative to an excess of poor choices.
In Chinese medicine, the whole body and spirit are considered in treatment for ANY condition. Many people turn to TCM for a variety of conditions and no matter the chief complaint, the acupuncturists considers all aspects of a person’s health in creating a treatment plan. The basics of any consideration are digestion and sleep. It may seem simple, but good health generally comes down to these two processes! Therefore, as you try to get back to center after an off-kilter year, just focus on these two processes. For digestion, be mindful of healthy and regular bowel movements. Symptoms of bloating, gas and acid reflux are a signal of digestive imbalances and can be addressed with diet changes and acupuncture. Sleep should be uninterrupted during a 7-8 hour period and should not dominated by vivid or scary dreams. If you experience waking due to an urge to urinate or extreme temperature shifts, this is another signal that the body is searching for a level of homeostasis. It may seem tempting to create grandiose and lofty resolutions, but for the year of 2021, I encourage you to find some BALANCE!
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