While this is a time of year for fun and festivities, it can also be extremely overwhelming, and often our self-care practices can fall to the wayside, leaving us feeling depleted and stressed. But it becomes so much easier when you’re surrounding yourself with people who share the same value systems as you!

If your circle is full of people who are mindful of how:

✅ they nourish their bodies
✅ they move
✅ they think
✅ they rest and recover
✅ much of a contribution they’re making in the world
✅ aligned they are with their purpose
✅ they’re growing through life

You’re going to be inspired and energized, rather than depleted and burnt out. They’ll also influence how well you live, with zest, with intention, without being dependent on medications – and even how long you live!

What I loved about the last weekend at the A4M Conference is that by 9pm, the majority of us were headed back to our rooms to get to bed!

Sleep is a major anti-aging and regenerative practice! I often say, “You need to REST as hard as you work.”

While you may be thinking “9pm bed time?” Let me share a little why this is important.

Why Sleep Is The Ultimate Biohack

This is the data from my Oura Ring. It shows that my deep sleep made up over 55% of my overall sleep! Every hour of sleep before midnight is equal to 2 hours of sleep! Deep sleep is where your body activates fat-burning hormones, regulates sex hormones and balances your mood.

Here’s the thing! If you’re burning the candle at both ends, your hormones, immunity, memory, metabolism and mood – not to mention your gut health – are going to take a hit!

🛑 You’ll eat more – and more of the wrong things e.g. sugar and starchy carbohydrates

🛑 You’ll have less energy

🛑 You’re more vulnerable to colds and flus (and there’s plenty of that going around right now)

🛑 You’re more likely to feel irritable, anxious and even sad…

Now I was not always a super sleeper! In fact, during my corporate days, I would get to bed after midnight and wake up at 5am so I could go running before work!

Is it any wonder I burnt out after years of this type of abuse to my body? But I didn’t know I was harming myself, because I was surrounded by people who did the exact same thing! In fact, I even had a manager who was 35 and had a stroke at 7am in the office! She’d work like I did, until 9pm, and get home around 10pm, and get into bed around midnight and then get up and go for a run at 5am…

If I continued living like that, I’d no doubt have ended up the same way…

That’s why the people you surround yourself with are so important! And why my favorite holiday hack to survive the busy-ness of this season – and any season – is to prioritize REST! You don’t have to wait until January 1st to begin!

Begin today. Block out that time in your calendar. And let those closest to you know why you’re changing your habits so they can support you!