How To Stay Healthy During The Holidays

The holiday season inspires a sense of excitement, the warmth of tradition, the welcoming of cooler weather. For some, these are wonderful emotions that can be motivating. For others, these emotions entice anxiety, stress, and sadness. Whether you are filled with joy or anxiety this time of year, learning how to stay healthy during the holidays is a must-have survival skill. My tips will give you the skills you need!

Tara’s Tuesday Tips: How To Stay Healthy During the Holidays

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, are hosting a party for one or twenty, have finals, deadlines, an overbooked calendar, or a list a mile long. This year, commit to getting through December without the weight gain, the overspending, the over-scheduling, the overindulging, getting sick, or arguing with someone. This holiday season, try to find a moment to pause and be present in what you are doing. Put your health on the to-do list and let these tips help you get started. Merry Everything, friends!

Tara’s Top 10 Tips to Stay Healthy During the Holidays:

Wash your hands:

This is the easiest thing on the list and the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from illness. Learn more here from the CDC or just wash your hands A LOT!

Sleep:

Put it on the calendar, schedule it, don’t skimp on sleep! When we sleep, our bodies repair our mind and body tissues. Sleep deprivation can affect memory, judgement, blood pressure, and can worsen weight gain. Who needs all that? Get some sleep!

Be present:

My yoga teacher introduced me to the concept of being present in what you do. Do one thing at a time and do it well. This is especially true during the holidays because we feel as though we have so much to do. Don’t pass through one moment trying to get to another. Be present. Try it, it really does work!

Plan ahead:

This might mean taking the time to pack snacks in your backpack before you leave for the airport so you aren’t frantic looking for snacks while traveling. Make a calendar + schedule your workouts in. Know the obstacles you face this time of year + do your best to be prepared for them – before they stress you out!

Make a budget:

If overspending on holidays is an issue – make a budget! And stick to it! Determine a holiday spending limit for gifts, entertaining, clothes, travel, etc. Communicate the budget to the others involved in your finances, adjust it if you need to, and stick to it!

Say No:

It is ok to decline an invitation or postpone an outing until after the holiday hustle is over. Sometimes alleviating that one thing to do will free up your mind and your spirit. Burnout is real, and it isn’t any fun for you or anyone around you. Say no to some things so that you can be fully present when you do say yes.

Stay hydrated:

I have said this a lot! Drink water! Why? Oh the list is so long. Prevent kidney stones, prevent constipation, clear skin, flush out toxins, help you fight off sickness, prevent dehydration, increase energy, and YOUR BODY NEEDS IT TO FUNCTION! During the holidays we are so busy we forget to drink water. This is an easy one to fix. Fill a bottle + keep it with you.

You don’t have to bake the old fashioned way:

Substitute apple sauce, maple syrup, or bananas instead of sugar. You can use healthy flour alternatives (oat, almond, chickpea, whole wheat) that don’t change the taste one bit but make it healthier!

Just because it is December, you don’t have to eat the _____:

The blank is there for whatever you find yourself saying yes to when you would normally say no if it weren’t December! Respect your body, learn how different foods and drinks affect your mood and energy level, ask yourself if it is worth it.

Bring a healthy, vegetarian dish:

Bring something with you that you know you can eat and share, people love yummy vegetarian food when you make it for them. That way, you don’t have to be the only one not eating at the party!