Sherry Vincent 11/23/25 Sherry Vincent 11/23/25

MANAGING HOLIDAY STRESS. WHY SELF-CARE MATTERS MORE THAN EVER.

The holiday season is supposed to feel warm and joyful. In reality, it often becomes one of the most stressful times of the year. People push themselves to meet expectations—family obligations, gift-giving, social events, financial pressure, end-of-year work demands. The picture-perfect holiday shown in ads and social media rarely matches real life, and the gap between expectation and reality creates tension.

Here’s the truth: holiday stress is normal. But letting it consume you isn’t necessary. A better approach is to take care of yourself early and consistently so you actually experience the season instead of surviving it.

1. Let Go of the Picture You Think You’re Supposed to Create

Holiday stress grows when you try to meet expectations that aren’t your own.

It’s okay if your season looks different.

It’s okay if it’s quieter.

It’s okay if you keep things simple.

You don’t need to impress anyone. You just need enough space to feel at ease.

2. Notice What Your Body Is Saying

Your body tells the truth long before your mind catches up.

Tight shoulders. A heavy neck. A tired back. A sense of holding too much.

Your body signals the build up long before you notice the emotional side of it.

When you listen early, you recover faster.

3. Protect Your Energy With Clear, Gentle Boundaries

Boundaries aren’t harsh; they’re caring.

You’re allowed to:

Say no when you’re tired
Choose smaller gatherings
Spend within your comfort
Rest when you need to
Step away when things feel overwhelming

A boundary is simply a way of saying, “I matter too.”

4. Create One Small Ritual Each Day

You don’t need a full routine to feel grounded. One simple act repeated daily is enough.

Try:

A warm shower with Aromatherapy bath products
A quiet moment with no phone
Stretching your back and shoulders before bed
Resting your eyes for a minute during the day
Stepping outside for fresh air

A small goodness, done regularly, keeps you sane.

5. Release Built-Up Tension With Gentle, Focused Care

The holidays tend to settle stress into the upper body. A little relief can make a meaningful difference. Try Atera Spa’s:

Head in the Clouds

A focused neck, back, and shoulder massage designed for people carrying tension from long days, overthinking, and physical overload. It works fast on the areas that tighten first under holiday pressure.

Deep Dive

The same targeted massage with added aromatherapy oils. The oils help regulate breathing, quiet the nervous system, and soften muscle tension more deeply.

These aren’t luxury extras. They’re practical tools that reset the body before stress compounds into pain, headaches, or burnout.

6. Choose What Feels Right for You

Ask yourself, “What do I want this season to feel like?”

Let that guide you.

Not trends. Not pressure. Not expectation.

You’re allowed to create a gentler holiday—one that fits your energy, your pace, and your well-being.

A Simple Closing Thought

You don’t have to move through the holidays on empty. With small rituals, kind boundaries, and moments of care, this season can feel softer and more manageable. Give yourself permission to slow down. That’s where the goodness lives.

Sherry Vincent 4/18/21 Sherry Vincent 4/18/21

DOES YOUR MENTAL HEALTH NEED A CHECKUP?

Create space for yourself to think, relax , and just be.

For more than a year, we’ve been at a terrifying crossroad between emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.

From the health impacts of COVID-19 to its effects of self and social isolation, disconnection from family and friends, and lockdowns, we’ve had to tackle hopelessness, anxiety and depression like never before.

And as if we needed one more thing added to that equation, we are now faced with the aftermath of the eruption of La Soufriere, with no end in sight.

So is it time for a collective mental check-up?

The truth is, this rollercoaster of emotions has been an overwhelmingly wild ride. And the only way to get through it is to confront them all. Don’t ignore them.

Share openly with a family member, friend, or a professional if warranted.

If you need help , don’t be ashamed to ask.

Create space for yourself to think, relax, and just be.

Let me repeat that: think, relax, and just be.

I’d love to hear about the impact this year has had on your emotional well-being and how we can help you find calm and reset.

“What mental health needs is more sunlight , more candor and more unashamed conversation”, said Glen Close.

I completely agree.

Be well, friends.

Sherry Vincent 6/29/20 Sherry Vincent 6/29/20

TAKING WELLNESS SERIOUSLY

What if we lived well and loved well. What if we actively pursued wellness?

Wellness means the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.

I don’t know about you guys but I’m constantly in pursuit of wellness. That state of being in good health can be elusive to many. It doesn’t involve deprivation but moderation in all things.

I’ve committed to eating clean, exercising ( not like a maniac) and engaging in activities that feed and nourish my soul.

Have you noticed how there seemed to be a not so subtle reset of our earth ?? Crystal clear waters in our oceans with beautiful fish coming a little too close for comfort, bright starry skies at night, where you can identify the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, picturesque sunsets and birds that you’d never seen or heard before. Our earth got the opportunity to breathe again, no longer struggling for air from the constant abuse.

What if we followed suit and re-calibrated our lives as we know it. Took a break from the constant abuse of radiation from our phones and computers . A break from the constant noise bombarding our brains everyday. What if we paid attention to the silent screams of our weary bodies begging for a reprieve.

What if we kept silent, just long enough to hear what our bodies were really craving.

PURE- (Clean eating), SIMPLE- (Uncomplicated living), GOODNESS- (the ability to enjoy the gifts we’ve been given)

What if we took early morning walks when the air was still unpolluted ,made time to take long swims on the weekend, or packed a picnic for our families, had zoom calls with girlfriends over coffee and laughed till our stomachs ached.

What if we slowed down, for a moment, to love ourselves and be good to ourselves and what if we took a long look at ourselves in the mirror and decided to be good human beings who were kinder to each other.