7 Tips for a Better Holiday Season
The holidays are upon us and although this can be the best time of the year, it can also be the most stressful. We can quickly find ourselves, over spent, over fed, under slept and overwhelmed if we are not careful.
We have treats everywhere, and while many of us are working hard not to unravel the work we have done all year, holiday treats are hard to resist. Our attention is pulled in so many directions it is hard to stick to our normal routine. We let go of self care to take care of others and find ourselves completely depleted.
The holidays are also a wonderful time of year, we get to spend extra time with family and friends. We have so many opportunities to give back to our communities. It is a time of year that can fill your cup. Here are 7 tips to stay joyful and focused during the busiest season of the year.
1. Start a Nightly Thankfulness Journal
Since we are in November, the month of Thankfulness this is a perfect time to start a nightly Thankfulness journal. Keep a journal and pen at your bed side and each night before you close your eyes write down the things that made you feel Thankful that day. Try to think about the small things i.e. the kind smile from the lady behind you in line, a hug for no reason from your kid, these are the things that we can easily over look but when you start to pay attention to them they can add so much joy to your day. Writing them down before bed can not only put you in a happy head space for sleep, it ca also create a joyful morning.
2 .Pre-Game with Veggies
We will be be invited to holiday gatherings this season and the food choices may not match up with the healthy choices we want to make. The temptation to eat all the wrong things may be too great to resist...and let's be honest, sometimes we need to let go of the rules and just live life. Before you leave your house pre-game with a salad (bonus points for a homemade vinaigrette), some cooked broccoli, asparagus or other veggies. These veggies will work magic for you! First, the fiber will keep you from showing up starving and cramming all the bread and appetizers in your mouth. Second, they will help your regulate your blood sugar so even if you do eat the bread or sweets...or have a cocktail, the insulin spike won't be as high. This can keep you from ending up in a loop of cravings and crashes!!
3. Travel with Tape
Many of us will travel to see loved ones this season. Travel its self can take a lot out of us but if you compound that with not sleeping well you may not be able to show up as your best self. A roll or electrical tape in your suitcase can make a huge difference. Hotel rooms are full of gadgets that have lights on them, coffee makers, alarm clocks, smoke detectors and more. That light can disrupt your sleep without you even knowing it. Take the tape and cover every light before you sleep so you are in a pitch black space and enjoy a good night's sleep.
4. Get your Family Moving!
It can be hard to keep up with an exercise routine when you are faced with the demands of the holidays but movement will be a key of your success if you want to make it through the holidays without extra lbs! One way you can make sure you are moving your body is to work it into family time. Take everyone for a bundled up walk, have a dance party in the living room or have a simple routine of bodyweight exercises you can all do together. Not only are you getting some quality family time you are also getting your bodies moving.
5. Be a Potluck Pro
You may be invited to at least one Potluck this season and we all know that the options are not always the healthiest. There is typically a protein so your best bet is to bring something healthy that you love and stick to that and the protein. Once you have filled up on good food the less healthy options won't be as tempting.
6. Don't Forget to Say "No".
We can be pulled in a hundred different directions over the holiday season and it is great to be able to offer your help......but know when to say no. It sounds easy but for so many of us saying no to someone that has asked for our help is one of the hardest things to do. We love to help!! But there is a point that we stretch our selves too thin and this can wreak havoc on our health and well-being. So, when you are asked if you can help out with something and you know that it is going to overwhelm you just politely say no. People will understand and go ask someone else.
7. Sleep Like You Mean It
Sleep is important all year long so you can take this advise through all the seasons. But during stressful times your sleep becomes even more important. Do not skimp on sleep to get the last of your to-do list done. Put the wrapping paper down and go to bed!! We need 7-9 hours of sleep a night to restore our bodies and minds so we can handle what the next day has in store, not sleeping night after night will slowly wear you down. Do whatever you can to get that 7-9 hours so you can show up as your best self to every event.
Take these tips and use them to create a plan for yourself. When we have a plan we tend to feel less stressed and more able to enjoy the moment. I hope you have an amazing holiday season and I hope that these tips help keep you in the holiday spirit.