I found this in a Magazine and wanted to share. Its a whole month of daily activities. How would you interrupt the challenges?
Give Yourself the Gift of Holiday Healing: Put happiness and health, joy and inspiration on your calendar every day of December, with our delightful; to-dos of fun, food, friendships and more.
December 1: Seek Icy Thrills - Winter activities such as skiing, ice skating, sledding and tubing aren’t just great calories burners, They are exhilarating. "The speed and fresh air give you a sense of elation that you just don’t get with many other workouts.
December 2: Belt out "Santa Baby" - Singing is linked to stress reduction. Even better join a choir.
December 3: Enjoy a Candy Cane - The menthol smell alone will pep you up to enjoy the holiday festivities. Its also yummy for your tummy, helping to calm an upset stomach.
December 4 - Munch Meringues - These cookies have fewer than 20 calories a pop - and zero fat - so you can eat a handful without breaking the calorie bank.
December 5: Add 27 Dresses to your Netflix queue - Even the expectation of watching a favorite comedy ups mood boosting endorphins by 27%.
December 6: Skip the Baubles -Instead of requesting jewelry, ask your man to take you dancing. People are happier when they have experiences instead of receiving material items.
December 7: Tap into the power of flowers - people feel better and perkier when they see bouquet first thing in the morning and the energy boost lasts throughout the day.
December 8: Get a helper's high - People who were asked to perform a different act every day - small countless such as helping a neighbor shovel her walk- reported a marked increase in happiness after 10 days.
December 9: Send your old pillows packing - To wake up feeling your best, you need a comfy headrest. If your pillow doesn’t quickly spring back after your fold it in half its time for a new one.
December 10: Hold hands with your sweetie - When couples were more affectionate for a month, researchers saw a dip in their stress hormones and blood pressure and an increase in a hormone thought to calm and counter stress.
December 11: Make friends with hot cocoa - Just holding a warm beverage makes us more generous and friendly. Turns out warm hands are linked to warm hearts by way of part of our brain called the insula, which helps process both physical temperature and emotions.
December 12: Stargaze
December 13: Become a softie: Dry, flaky skin is a downer. Keep your skin soft by switching to a super hydrating body cleanser.
December 14: Sit by a crackling fire - Tuning in to the sounds of nature - listening to tweeting birds or rain on the roof also qualifies - quickly reduced stress.
December 15: Bask in a Nutcracker ballet performance - Research shows that people who regularly attend cultural events feel healthier and more vital than those who don't participate.
December 16: Grin as you greet the cashier - Having a cheery attitude during the holiday season increases the chances that those around you will feel warm and fuzzy too.
December 17: Treat yourself to a salon Facial - Schedule it a day away from any big event, so the pinkness has time to fade.
December 18: Make Holiday cards gratitude cards - Instead of signing your cards with a generic "Hope all is well" take time to express to friends and family what they really mean to you. Showing gratitude increases your own happiness by as much as 25%.
December 19: Savor your Sunday - Pick and Sunday this month and make it an errand - free day. Better yet, fill it with as many pleasurable activities as possible. Research shows that people have better attitudes, more energy, and fewer aches and pains on the weekends - a benefit that comes from having more control over your schedule and being able to spend time with loved ones.
December 20: Dive into a good book - Reading can have a tranquilizing effect.
December 21: Get on a roll - A foam roller, that is. This hot fitness tool also has a more pleasurable use: rolling on it to massage tight glutes, deltoids, triceps, and hamstrings.
December 22: Hit the Snooze Button: Sleeping 7 1/2 hours a bight for 3 straight nights guarantees you will get through at least 5 full sleep cycles a night, garnering the full benefits of stage 4 sleep and bolstering your immunity.
December 23: Pamper your peds - give shopped - out feet a well-deserved time-out with a 10 minute soak in a spearmint, rosemary and eucalyptus infused foot bath.
December 24: Cut down your own tree - being in the great outdoors reduces stress, improves mood and boosts happiness. It may also strengthen your immune system by increasing the number and activity of cancer destroying cells.
December 25: Window shop -The same brain chemicals that make sex so pleasurable rise sharply when you're window-shopping. To avoid over spending, peek through the glass when stores are closed or you've left your wallet at home.
December 26: Buy a new lipstick: The daily pick me up you'll get from it will be more satisfying than clothes or accessories, which you'll only wear every once in awhile.
December 27: Go for a Moonlight walk - Shake up your routine. Eat breakfast for dinner, reroute your commute or take a new exercise class.
December 28: Mellow out to Mozart - (even if your usually a hard rock fan) After three 28-minute sessions of listening to Eline Kleine Nachtmusik, people felt more peaceful, more relaxed and less stressed than those who tuned in to other music; they also felt higher levels of awe, wonder and mystery.
December 29: Make a date with your college roommate - Simply spending time with a favorite friend increases levels of the hormone progesterone, which can lower feelings of anxiety and stress.
December 30: peel yourself a Clementine: The scent of this sweet, juicy fruit is more likely to boost joy. Not only will a whiff of one help keep you happy, the vitamin C, calcium, and potassium in it will help keep you healthy too.
December 31: Plan your next vacation: Looking forward to a trip can boost your mood for as long as 16 weeks prior to the departure date.
