Hi! Long time no see! ;) I'm very happy to be back and very excited to share my new post with you. For me the month of December is a lovely month. It's festive everywhere with cute decorations, cozy moments with friends and family and really appreciating the day light there is and turning more towards your inner self by slowing down. However, December for me can also be a month where there is more pressure to attend social gatherings, dealing with more workload before the holidays or just having difficulties with the darker days and less sunlight. And that's okay and totally understandable! If you say yess that's me and can use a few tips to feel both mentally and physically extra strong, then grab your tea of coffee and let's get right to it! 
1. MAGNESIUM BYSGLICINATE
One of my favourites for this month (but also whole year round) is magnesium bysglicinate. It's especially helpful if your nervous system feels extra on edge during this month. It's kind of a secret weapon aha! This form of magnesium absorbs very well. Better than magnesium oxide for example. It's also quite easy on your stomach and it helps to sleep better, gives you steadier energy throughout the day and you'll notice you just feel less on edge overall. It has a calm effect on your body. So I started with 150mg every other day for my body to get used to it.
I was a bit skeptic at first because I read on fora such as Reddit that women's cycles got delayed or became very irregular. I haven't noticed that myself yet. I think it might have to do that my dosis is quite low and I let my body get used to it. So that's quite important! And fun fact: I noticed when I take this type of magnesium regularly my pms is much better and my stomach cramps are gone almost completely! Can you believe that?! Super happy haha. But if I have a month with more stress or less good eating habits, of course that makes the pms worse. So try not to eat too much sugar. Best thing for any diet I would say is just the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time healthy 1 ingredient foods, like tomatoes, bananas, etc. Enough protein and fiber and than 20% you can just snack something nice. And to just focus on what you can eat instead of only what you cannot. Otherwise it's going to feel mentally draining.
The magnesium bysglicinate I use is from Holland & Barrett. I live in the Netherlands so I'm not sure if it's available in other countries from this exact same brand. But I find this one quite good and a fair price for what you get. Make sure to check the ingredient list that there aren't any or many additives.
2. PROTECT YOUR BOUNDARIES
Besides taking my magnesium, I find it very helpful to just be extra mindful of your boundaries. December can be a hectic month and that's why saying no a bit more often can sometimes help. It can help you with calming your nervous system and giving your body a break from getting overstimulated. And of course it might sometimes make you feel a bit guilty if you're not used to setting boundaries to a certain extent. That's completely normal and I have that too sometimes. But in the end it's much better if you feel ok rather than pleasing someone else and you not feeling right afterwards. Hey, there's only one you right?! So be mindful of yourself this Christmas season!;)
I love dancing so it's definitely on my list for go to mental and physical health tips! Dancing just has the power to lift your spirit, especially when the days are getting shorter. I've listed a few of my top favourite dance channels on Youtube below.
- Zumba Sulu: a super fun Zumba channel with both more mainstream pop music workouts on music like Meghan Trainor.
- Boombox: longer style videos with Latin-style workouts!
- Karthyn Morgan: ballet videos for beginners and intermediate level. Very fun as it's easy to follow and you can both do centre or barre exercises.
Remember, self-care isn’t selfish it’s essential. Make your wellbeing a priority this month, and you’ll feel more energized, focused, and joyful, ready to embrace the holidays fully.
Which of these tips are you excited to try first? Share your favorite ideas in the comments below, and don’t forget to pass this guide along to friends and family who could use a little December wellness magic. Let’s make this season joyful, balanced, and healthy together!
