20-12-2024
From Survival Mode to Thriving: Holiday Stress Hacks with Lisa Foster
Do the holidays leave you feeling frazzled, stuck in survival mode, or totally overwhelmed?
If so, you’re not alone—and this episode is here to help! 🎄✨
In this first episode of Season 3, I’m joined by the amazing Lisa Foster, a Cranio Sacral Therapist, host of the Real Life Momz podcast, and the guest of the most downloaded episode of Stepping into Purpose Season 1.
Lisa brings her wealth of experience to share actionable strategies for managing stress, calming your nervous system, and thriving during even the busiest seasons of life.
In This Episode, We Cover:
🌟 The Nervous System’s Role in Stress:
How your body’s survival mode was built for emergencies (like a bear attack) but gets triggered by modern-day stressors like holiday chaos or work deadlines.
Why chronic stress wreaks havoc on digestion, immunity, and overall well-being.
🌟 Lessons from Nature:
How animals naturally release stress and reset—and how we can do the same.
The importance of not holding onto stress or energy that doesn’t belong to us.
🌟 For Highly Sensitive People (HSPs):
Why highly sensitive individuals absorb others’ energy and emotions and how to protect your boundaries during social gatherings.
Practical Stress-Relief Tools You’ll Love:
💡 Pause and Check In:
Notice how and where stress manifests in your body to take the first step toward balance.
💡 Simple Breathwork:
Use Lisa’s favorite breathing technique: inhale for 3 counts, exhale for 6. Repeat five times to activate your parasympathetic system and calm your mind.
💡 Shake It Out:
Reset your nervous system by moving your body—shake, dance, or go for a walk.
💡 Humming or Singing:
Stimulate your vagus nerve and shift your nervous system into “rest-and-digest” mode.
💡 Energy Awareness:
Ask yourself, “Is this mine?” when overwhelmed by others’ stress, and visualize releasing what isn’t yours, and isn't serving you.
💡 Mindful Social Planning:
Know what energizes or drains you (e.g., intimate one-on-one conversations vs. large group settings) and plan accordingly.
💡 Let Go of Guilt:
Your presence is enough—release the need to meet every expectation.
💡 Create Reset Moments:
Build in mini-breaks to recalibrate, whether it’s a quiet moment alone, a short walk, or a deep-breathing session.
Lisa’s insights and tools are exactly what you need to bring calm, joy, and balance back into your life this holiday season—and beyond.
Resources Mentioned:
🎧 Listen to Lisa Foster’s podcast, Real Life Momz on Apple, Real Life Momz on Spotify
🎧 Catch Lisa’s first guest appearance on Stepping into Purpose: "Magic Treatment - The Transformative Power of Cranio Sacral Therapy"
Also checkout Lisa's Website: reallifemomz.com
Subscribe and Listen to Stepping into Purpose:
➡ YouTube: @lydiagillman
➡ Apple: Stepping into Purpose Podcast
➡ Spotify: Stepping into Purpose Podcast
Let’s Connect:
🌟 Follow me on Instagram for more inspiration: @lydiagillman.lovetoatee
🌟 Book a FREE connection call to explore how I can support you: Book here
#holidaystress #nervoussystemregulation #highlysensitiveperson #selfcare #hsps #craniosacraltherapy #stressmanagement