Manage the holiday season by making your health a number one priority. Use these 5 simple steps to turn your holiday into a stress-free, worry-free, healthful season.
Keep Stressful Rituals at Bay
Your stress may be caused by thinking of paying for expensive gifts or preparing a grand dinner. This year take a step back from the stressful rituals. The holiday season is meant to bring comfort and joy, not anxiety and a headache. If you still insist on going all out with gifts and a delicious dinner, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It will benefit everyone and ease your stress.
Make Time for Working Out
You have heard it over and over again, but consistent exercise is beneficial for your overall health. However, during the holidays it will be hard to roll out of the bed and into the gym. A few tips to help motivate you is to remember all the progress you made in 2016, wear your workout clothes to bed, looking at #fitstagrams, etc. We totally understand that you may be in a time crunch, because we all want to spend time with loved ones, so don’t sweat it trying to squeeze in hours at the gym. Even a workout that’s 20-30 minutes max can still keep you on track with your goals.
Choose the Foods That Make You and Your Body Smile
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With sugar cookies and eggnog overflowing it can be hard to resist these holiday eats. But why should you resist? There is absolutely nothing wrong with eating a sugar cookie or drinking eggnog while watching Home Alone. As with everything in life, eat these indulgent, holiday desserts and foods in moderation. Do not completely fall off the health bandwagon you have been riding since January 2016, taking care of your health is a lifestyle, not a short term diet. Go ahead, make your green smoothie, soup and other delicious eats that make you feel your best, and slip in the sugar cookie while you are at it.
Practice Moderation
Eat what you love, leave what you like. Abandon all the negative thoughts running through your head about cookies, bubbly and eggnog. Give yourself permission to be indulgent without over indulging.
Shop on a Full Stomach
Travelling, shopping, and running errands during the holidays can lead to bad food choices later in the day. Eating something healthy and filling before heading out the door will save you from picking up the grande size Starbucks frappuccino at the mall.
Journal
Health does not stop with working out and eating well, it includes taking care of your mind too. During the holidays we have numerous thoughts running through our mind. What should I buy for this person? How am I going to afford this gift? Should I go to this holiday party filled with high calorie temptations? Allow your mind release all the good and bad thoughts you have been holding lately. Don’t critically think about your thoughts, just write it all out and reflect on them later.
Keep the Focus on Fun, Not Food
The holidays are a time when delicious food is present, but it is not a time to focus on food. Spend this wonderful season enjoying the presence of family and friends, while making a lifetime of memories.
If you find yourself still falling out of your healthy routine, read this to help get you back on board!
