I think it’s safe to say when you hear the words holiday health your mind instantly goes to skipping the second piece of pumpkin pie, skipping dessert altogether, making ‘healthy’ food choices at all the holiday parties. Talk about boring! Learn how to enjoy all those delicious holiday recipes while staying healthy during this holiday season.
Yes, those choices do matter and are important, but so is managing your stress and Let’s be honest – it’s through the roof around the holiday. Picky, judgy in-laws, tiring family members, trying to stay within your budget, gifts, work deadlines, bills, taxes now I’m getting stressed just writing that sentence lol.
The point is – there are a lot of additional holiday stressors that can make what should be a happy, joyful time of year far less pleasant. With this in mind, I’ve created a list of ways for you to stay healthy during the holidays in ALL facets of your life.
1. Limit indulging to special days
Let’s be real – nobody gains weight from overeating at ONE Thanksgiving dinner. These special one-day events have become a daily buffet from November until New Years Day alsoJust because your coworker brings in freshly baked Christmas cookies doesn’t mean you have to eat them – or that pie, or that stuffing, or… You get my point. Keep your splurges to specific events like Otherwise, you’ll feel moody, bloated, and probably constipated from all the foods you overindulged on daily.
2. Prioritize your immune health
What does holiday stress, sick co-workers and family members, sugary foods, and changing weather all have in common? An invitation for ill health. Think colds and the flu. No one wants to be sick, especially during the holidays.
Here are some strategies to keep your immune system up to par:
- Learn basic ways to protect yourself and maintain your immunity. Think the basics – cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often (scrub 15 seconds ladies!), stay away from others who are sick, disinfect the shopping cart handle…. These are so common we often forget – especially the kiddos.
- Stay hydrated! Drink water and lots of it to help keep your body operating smoothly.
- Eat lots of fruits and veggies
- SLEEP – make it happen one way or another
3. Limit The Alcohol
This is one I take to heart. Why? Because when I drink too much it triggers me to start eating more junk than I otherwise would. Alcohol clouds your capacity to make healthy choices which makes you prone to make bad eating choices. Plus, drinking too much too often can also negatively impact your immune system 😉
4. Delegate, delegate, delegate the craziness
You do not have to do it all woman. I repeat – YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT ALL. I get it – you want your house to be sparkling clean, the party to be oh just perfect, the wrapping to be pristine, the gifts to be so thoughtful, and your hair on point. I get it also see overwhelm, anxiety, frustration, and mood swings on your horizon.
Juggling all the holiday tasks plus your normal everyday life is demanding. And if you’re like most women, you take on more than you can handle. It’s ok to ask for help actually a great skill I teach my clients there’s no shame in asking for help and delegating tasks.
Asking someone to help you also builds relationships because it shows the other person you trust them enough to ask of them, you believe they can do the job and do it well. That’s a win-win – they feel good to help you and you have less on your plate.
5. Prioritize Exercise
I know I know, you hear this one all the time – exercise to stay healthy. Who has time during the holidays? YOU DO. When you make you a priority, you will stay healthy during the holidays and don’t need to list out the benefits of moving yourself, I know you know them.
If your excuses are that you “don’t have the time” I cry BS! You will make the time for what matters to you or you will make an excuse. I highly encourage you to take a look at what your go-to excuse is when you don’t’ want to do something so excuse is also the excuse holding you back from everything you desire, including staying healthy during the holidays.
6. Get Your Sleep
Stress and lack of sleep go hand in hand. Too little sleep can leave you feeling frazzled and more stressed over the little things. I challenge you to create a sleep ritual that includes powering down the electronics one to two hours before bed. What relaxes you? When do you feel you unwind? Have you tried a sleep supplement? Tea? Find something that works for you.
If it’s the holiday stress that’s keeping you up, I highly encourage journaling before bed. It’s a great way to brain dump all the crap that’s buzzing in your head. Brain dump then rest, knowing you won’t forget about all the umpteen things you have to do because you wrote it down.
7. Be Mindful
Make the time to tune in to what you’re grateful for every day. Having an attitude of gratitude is contagious. Plus, what you focus on grows so if you’re focused on the positive you’ll naturally call in more positivity in all areas of your life, including your health.
What are you #grateful or #thankful for? I challenge you to think of five things, people, places – anything.
8. Increase your self-care
Stress management is crucial during the holidays. How you handle those difficult family members, work deadlines and store crowds are up to you. It’s time to start tuning into yourself and paying attention to what lights you up. I am not here to give you some BS list revolving around face masks, bubble baths, and sipping wine. If that feels good to you great. If not that’s great too. I challenge you to find what does sound good to you.
I encourage you to further explore You really can be happy and healthy, even during the holidays. Most importantly, you can choose to do it on your terms while having fun. Life happens quickly, and before you know it mid-November will become New Year’s Day. Don’t be the person who waits until Jan 1 to take care of yourself. Your life is now, and it’s begging you to play it full out now.
The things you can cut out of your life as a form of self-care. How can you set up healthier boundaries? Booting toxic relationships whether it be a family member, friend, coworker, or family. Detoxing from social media and news. Put a halt to purchasing materialistic things that don’t truly light you up. Define what self -care truly means for you and apply it relentlessly.
9. Focus on family and fun during the holiday season, not the food
You don’t have to sit around watching Netflix or Disney+ or snooze all day just because there’s delicious food around. You can choose to make the holidays active. Think fun activities that don’t involve food, like board games, football, checking out the holiday lights.
Balance is the key to staying healthy during the holidays. You can enjoy all those delicious foods while still being mindful about your health when you indulge mindfully and moderately.
I have a 20-minute meal journal to help you really not worry about your meals and be eating healthy during this crazy time of year.
Author
Meet Rebecca!
Rebecca is a Health & Lifestyle Coach (+ Registered Nurse) passionate about helping women just like you, rebuild their relationship with food, increase their energy, and unveil that strong, independent, badass woman inside of them. Many of you know how to eat healthily and how to exercise. But something keeps getting in your way. You need someone to help you de-stress and get your sh*t together! That’s exactly where she comes in!
https://www.modavatecoaching.com
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