Multiple Flights, a Four-Year-Old and a Very Full Calendar: How I Get Ready for the Holidays

By Cynthia Tieche, CEO, Recharge Clinic
Blog 1 of 3: Your Holiday Head Start

As I’m writing this on September 28, I’m planning my upcoming trip to see Bella in medical school, and you should see my calendar!

Getting there takes two flights, busy airports and multiple Uber rides. Of course, my brain has to go there: How many butts have been on those seats?! Some questions are probably better left unanswered.

And did I mention my four-year-old is coming too?

Yes. Two flights there, and two back. A four-year-old. And I’ll still be working for Recharge while I’m away. Apparently, my calendar didn’t get the memo that there are only so many hours in a day!

The holidays aren’t even here yet, and we’re already off and running. That’s exactly why my holiday preparation starts long before I’m deciding what to cook for Thanksgiving.

I have people to love, places to go and a whole lot I want to be present for. Taking care of myself has to be part of the planning.

This trip to see Bella is very much a mom trip. Mom is coming, and Mom has a job to do!

We’ll visit the boys’ home where Bella regularly volunteers. I’m looking forward to spending time with those busy little boys, runny noses and all. I’ll also be cooking for Bella’s friends who miss home and baking for her upcoming bake sale to support the children’s homes.

Then there’s the most important mom job: encouraging my daughter, who is working her butt off in medical school.

There’s a lot of physical effort in all of that. Travel, shopping, cooking, baking and keeping up with a four-year-old take energy. Being emotionally available takes something, too. I want to listen when Bella needs encouragement. I want to enjoy being with her friends and bring a little feeling of home to kids who are a long way from it.

Those are the things I’m looking forward to. I want to have something left to give when I get there!

After that, I’ll come home for a few days, unpack, repack and head to Auburn to see Sofia and watch her Auburn University Equestrian meet.

More cooking. More encouraging. More loving on homesick college kids. Apparently, feeding my children and their friends is becoming a traveling operation! And I LOVE every minute of it…

That rhythm of travel, work and family responsibilities will continue over the next six weeks. Then we move into holiday traditions, and the girls will be home for a few weeks in December. Yaaayyy! I cannot wait!

It’s a lot, physically and emotionally. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But loving every bit of it doesn’t mean I have unlimited energy.

That’s where the preparation comes in.

My health is something I work on all year. I don’t want to reach the busiest part of the year having spent the previous months putting myself last.

You probably know how easy that is. You make everyone else’s appointments, remember everyone else’s needs and keep moving your own appointment to next week. Then next week gets busy, too.

If you’ve been feeling unusually tired, struggling with sleep or putting off a health concern, give yourself room to address it now. You deserve time to talk about what’s going on before your calendar fills up even more.

And please don’t think you need a perfect starting point. Every day is a new day and a new opportunity to make a good, healthy choice. You can make an appointment, plan a meal or get to bed earlier today. Start there!

For me, preparing also means thinking about what goes in my bag and what needs an actual spot on my calendar.

My Recharge Cocktail, Recharge Fiber and Recharge Prebiotics come with me. So does my prescribed thyroid medication from Recharge RX.

If you read our recent thyroid blog, you already know I’ve learned my lesson about that one! Feeling better is not my cue to start forgetting the medication that’s part of my treatment. My thyroid prescription absolutely gets a place on the packing list.

Before this first trip, I’m making time for my vitamin IV at Recharge, and I plan for IV visits during my time back home. When there isn’t time for an IV, my prescribed Recharge vitamin shots are part of my routine.

This is my personal plan. Your health needs, medications and routine may look different, and that’s a conversation to have with your own provider at Recharge Clinic.

And none of this makes me germ-proof! An IV or vitamin shot isn’t a promise that I won’t catch a cold while traveling. Taking care of myself still includes the everyday basics, including washing my hands and getting my sleep.

Before I go any further, there’s one part of my day that belongs at the very top of this list: my time with God! I make time for prayer and being with Him before all the other tasks competing for my attention. As much as I care about sleep, exercise and eating well, my relationship with God comes first. Home or traveling, busy season or quiet season, that time is a priority. I have a lot of people counting on me, and I need Him!

Speaking of sleep, it needs room on the calendar, too.

There will always be one more thing I could finish. One more work task, one more detail for the trip, one more reason to stay up. At some point, I have to stop and go to bed. Tomorrow already has plenty planned!

Movement matters to me mentally and physically, and I make room for it. What that looks like can change when I’m traveling or when my body needs recovery. I can adjust the time, the intensity and my expectations to fit what’s appropriate for me that day.

Good food matters, too. I put thought into feeding my family, and I need to include myself in that planning. If I leave every meal to whatever happens to be available when I’m finally hungry, I’ve made taking care of myself harder than it needs to be.

Before your next busy week, take a few minutes to think through meals, where movement can fit and what time you need to head to bed. Give those things a place alongside the appointments and errands.

I want to enjoy the time I’ve worked so hard to make possible. I want to sit down with my girls and actually be there with them.

The word behind all of this is DISCIPLINE!

It takes discipline to prepare, to keep an appointment and to follow through on the little things when life is busy. It also takes discipline to stop, rest and admit that you need to adjust your plans.

Sometimes the healthy choice is doing less that day. Listening to your body and respecting its recovery needs belong in the plan. So does letting a few things wait.

I take care of myself because I want to show up for the people I love. I know so many of you feel the same way. We can care deeply for our families and include our own needs in the schedule.

And yes, before you ask, my skin-care routine is coming with me!

I use ZO at home, and it travels with me, including my everyday ZO sun protection (P.S. They have a new tinted one I am obsessed with). A full suitcase isn’t a reason to leave that routine behind. We’ll talk more about skin care in the third blog in this series. For now, consider this your reminder to pack your sunscreen!

So, what’s already filling your calendar? Travel? Hosting? Children, grandchildren or a busy season at work?

Before you fill every remaining space, put yourself on there. Schedule a visit at Recharge to discuss how you’re feeling, the concerns you’ve been postponing and an individualized plan that fits your health needs and your life.

Call 352-512-9996 or visit Recharge Clinic to request your appointment before the holiday rush.

I know there will still be tired days and plans that need adjusting. But there’s so much I’m looking forward to: cheering for Sofia, encouraging Bella, cooking for their friends and having my girls home in December.

That’s what I’m preparing for. What are you looking forward to?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I prepare for the holiday season without feeling overwhelmed?

Start with a few things you can follow through on: plan meals, protect your bedtime, make room for movement and schedule any health appointments you’ve been postponing. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life before Thanksgiving! I’m preparing now because I want to enjoy my family when the busy days arrive.

2. Where can I schedule a health appointment in Ocala, Lady Lake or Clermont before the holidays?

Recharge Clinic has locations in Ocala, Lady Lake serving The Villages, and Clermont. Whether you have a specific concern or need help figuring out where to start, our team can help you schedule the appropriate visit. Put your appointment on the calendar before every space belongs to someone else!

3. Should I have my thyroid checked if I’m tired before the holiday season?

Persistent fatigue deserves a conversation with your provider. An underactive thyroid can cause fatigue, but feeling tired alone doesn’t tell you the cause. At Recharge, you can discuss your symptoms and whether thyroid testing or another evaluation makes sense. 

4. How much sleep should I plan for during holiday travel?

Most adults need at least seven hours a night, with the recommended amount varying by age. Quality matters, too. If you regularly wake up tired or struggle to sleep, bring it up with your Recharge Clinic provider. I know there’s always one more thing to do, but bedtime deserves a place on the itinerary!

5. Does Recharge Clinic offer telehealth appointments in Florida?

Yes! Recharge offers telehealth for many medical services throughout Florida, which can make follow-up care easier during a busy season. Some concerns, lab work and treatments require an in-person visit. Our team can help determine whether telehealth or an appointment at an Ocala, Lady Lake/The Villages or Clermont location is appropriate for you.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Sleep — Sleep needs, healthy sleep habits and when to discuss sleep problems with your provider.
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid) — Thyroid symptoms, evaluation and prescribed treatment.