For many of us, the holidays are a time of joy and celebration filled with parties, traveling and indulgent dishes. But, they can also leave us feeling burnt out, exhausted, sluggish and overwhelmed.
To help you have an enjoyable and stress-free holiday season, we’ve gathered a few tips for ways you can maintain a healthy mind and body over the next few months.
Eat More Veggies
We encourage you to enjoy all the food fun that comes with the holiday season, from the Christmas cookies to pumpkin pie, eggnog and everything in between. To help lessen the sluggish, bloating feeling you might have after savoring all these sweet, heavy treats, we recommend eating more veggies than you typically do. The late-fall season is filled with nutrient dense vegetables, like brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes, that will give your body what it needs to feel energized and satisfied.
Move Your Body Every Day
Along with eating more veggies, getting in daily exercise is another way to stay healthy during the holiday season. Whether it’s a quick, 10-minute yoga flow or a five-mile run, moving your body every day can help mitigate stress, alleviate pain and combat illness. Exercise is also a fantastic way to gather with friends and family during the holidays. Get a group together for a morning workout before the festivities start or run the local Turkey Trot with your kids.
Prioritize Sleep
The holidays are filled with late-night parties, online shopping and cozy chats around the fire. But luckily, during the holidays, many of us have time off from work, school and our traditional 9-5 routine, allowing us time to catch up on much-needed sleep. We recommend aiming for 7-9 hours a night to improve your mood and energy levels over the next two months.
Indulge in “Me” Time
We’re often encouraged to give our time, money and energy to other people during November and December. It’s also important that we give back to ourselves. Find time to do the things you love to do, whether that be knitting, reading, watching TV or participating in a community activity, like pickleball.
Rethink Traditions
If the holiday season has always been stressful for you or something you tend to dread, it might be time to reevaluate how you spend your holidays. How can you make this time of year one of joy versus one of anger, sadness or resentment? Maybe you skip a specific party or two this year. Maybe you cook a new dish. Whatever it is, rethinking traditions can be helpful in creating a healthier and happier holiday season.
Wash Your Hands
Viruses tend to spread most commonly during the fall and winter months, and can be passed around during gatherings with family and friends. Practice good hygiene by washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. It’s also recommended that you avoid being around other people if you aren’t feeling well. Read the CDC’s guidelines for staying healthy during the holidays.
