The holiday season isn’t the healthiest time of the year. You’ll go to meetings, gatherings, parties. It’s inevitable you’ll overindulge both in what you eat and what you drink. Emotionally, it can be a bit overwhelming as well. So, in this article, we’ll discuss 4 ways to enjoy a healthier Christmas and New Year, without missing out on the fun.
You shouldn’t have to feel stressed through the holiday season, and the extra food and drinks you enjoy might end up making you feel unhealthy and uncomfortable for weeks! Let’s discuss 4 tips to help you enjoy a healthier Christmas and New Year holiday season 2019 without losing your sanity.
1). Don’t overdo it
We all know how holiday seasons go. You have meetings after meetings, got to buy gifts, get together with family members and friends, take care of last-minute details. It can be awfully stressful.
The solution is simple enough, but requires some effort on your part: Let go. Don’t overdo it. If you don’t want to go to that office party, stay at home. If you can’t help your relatives gift shopping, explain that you are busy and let them be offended if they want to. It’s easier said than done, but it’s the best way to survive the holiday seasons without feeling stress is overtaking your life.
Take a deep breath and analyze what is vital and can’t be avoided, or what you really want to do. The rest, you can ignore. It might take some time to adapt to such a mindset, but in the end, it will make you enjoy the holiday season all the more.
The year is ending and it’s time to have a little break from all your responsibilities. You spent all of the previous months doing what people expected you to, and during the holiday season, that demand can grow, with the relatives and friends you are supposed to be letting down if you say no to them. A bit of egoism is healthy, and you should learn to refuse the things that make you feel bad or uncomfortable.
If the Christmas dinner doesn’t turn out perfectly, it’s alright. If you don’t want to hang out with an overbearing relative, it’s alright as well. Try and focus on the positive and let go of the negative, and maybe you’ll finally enjoy Christmas and New Year instead of suffering through this period.
2). Outside of the parties and reunions, try and eat well-balanced meals
The holidays are filled with tempting feasts. That’s alright, you have the right to enjoy that lavish dinner and delicious treats. But outside of those parties and meetings, try to eat healthy and balanced. Don’t overdo it: Going without eating or trying a harsh diet is probably not the right way to go.
Not only will it add stress to an already tense month of the year, but it will also be a stark contrast with the hyper-caloric meals you’ll have during the holidays, and your stomach might end up suffering the consequences. You don’t want to end up feeling awful the day after Christmas.
Remember to stay hydrated, especially if you drink alcohol. A good rule of thumb is to divide your body weight by half. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you should drink a day. So, let’s say you weigh 100 pounds, you should be drinking around 50 ounces, which would be around 6 or 7 cups of liquid daily. Anything less than that is not a good idea, especially not during the holiday season, when there are so many other unhealthy habits you’ll be indulging in.
3). Take some time for yourself
In between parties and meetings, take time to be with yourself and relax. Do something you enjoy! It might be going out for a run, watching a movie, reading a book or just taking a nice stroll. Perhaps even go shopping! Whatever the activity, the important thing is that during this busy month, you allow yourself some time to be on your own, without any responsibilities and other people hovering around you.
Sometimes people expect you to be busy and on the move constantly, but you know better, and it’s important to dedicate some spare time to your own personal needs.
It will allow you to enjoy being around your loved ones that much more, and even reflect on the positive and the negative stuff you went through this year. Remember: You need to connect and love yourself before you can do the same with others. Give yourself a little time to unwind away from all the noise and crowds and this holiday season should be far less stressful!
4). Enjoy! Enjoy!! Enjoy!!!
This might sound obvious, but in the rush of things, you might forget that the holidays aren’t just about eating and exchanging gifts, but about spending time with your loved ones and friends. Enjoy your time with your family, cherish your parents or siblings or spouse. If you have children, try and experience this joyous occasion through their eyes. It’ll be like being a kid all over again, and you’ll get to feel the magic of Christmas and the beginning of a New Year. Don’t take things too seriously and just enjoy the parties and gatherings you attend.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that this is what this season is truly about, so take a moment to appreciate what you have and give yourself permission to just enjoy it. It really is worth it, and the memories will remain with you far longer than any gift might.
Be sure to follow these pieces of advice, and you’ll be able to begin this new year feeling healthier and filled with energy. If these tips, in particular, don’t work for your lifestyle or preferences, perhaps they may inspire other positive changes to enjoy a healthier holiday season.
If you’d love to learn more, read this article on how 6 Experts Share Their Tips on How To Stay Fit And Healthy Over Christmas.
Merry Christmas and happy new year to you!
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