The holiday season is great for many reasons. You get time off work. You get to visit loved ones who you may not have seen all year. There are parties, presents and plenty of opportunities for laughter, and the food is excellent.
However, the holiday season also has its downsides, not the least of which is people using holiday dinners and the upcoming New Year to overindulge and become unhealthy. Because there are so many elaborate dinners and exciting parties, people often go a little crazy during the holidays. They also put off getting in shape because they think, “The new year is coming up. I’ll make a resolution to do better then.”
However, it’s easier to stay in shape than it is to get back in shape after letting yourself get out of shape. As the old saying goes, “Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?” Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy this holiday season – no resolutions needed.
Watch Your Portion Sizes
Everyone loves mom’s apple pie and grandma’s turkey and dressing. When you go home for the holidays to enjoy some authentic home-cooked meals, it’s easy to pile your plate high and go back for more. You’ll be tempted, but you need to resist.
Eat a little bit of everything at your family dinners, but limit yourself to small servings and only one trip to the table. Also, pick one small dessert, not a plate full of them. This will ensure you have a great meal without overdoing it.
Meditate
For total body wellness, you can’t solely focus on the physical aspects of your health. You also have to take care of your emotional and psychological needs. For keeping yourself centered and balanced, the benefits of meditation cannot be overstated.
Regular meditation has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, improve memory, focus and attention span, help with addiction and weight loss and help you sleep better at night. It’s important to take time out from the busy, bustling holidays for some “me-time.” If you happen to be extra motivated to carry this self-care into 2020, ask for the Christmas gift of being able to attend one of many spiritual healing retreats offered by world-class professionals in Southern California. This can help you take your practice to the next level and make it part of your life forever.
Walk
When the weather gets cold and the sun goes down early, it’s easy to fall into the rhythm of waking up, going to work, coming home, putting on your pajamas and sitting in front of the TV or computer until bedtime. This is one of the worst things you can do for your health.
Make time for walking. Whether you bundle up and go outside, head to an indoor track and make your rounds or simply walk on a treadmill at home, make sure you set aside a span of time each day dedicated to walking.
Take Vitamins
Whether because of the influx of people or the cold weather, people get sicker around the holidays. Boost your immune system by taking vitamins and getting enough iron. If you’re prone to seasonal allergies, take an allergy pill each morning with breakfast, as well.
Drink Plenty of Water
As a general rule, most people don’t drink enough water. This is especially true during the colder months of the year. It’s too cold to need ice water to cool you down. In fact, most of the time, you actually want hot beverages to warm you up!
However, it’s very important to drink enough water to keep your body hydrated. Without enough water, you’ll dehydrate, and then nothing inside your body will work like it’s supposed to work. So whether you need to heat it up in the microwave and squeeze in some lemon or drink it room temperature from a bottle, do whatever it takes to keep up with your water intake.
The holidays are a time to have fun and indulge a little. But the emphasis should be on little; make a point to restrain yourself when the sweets and high-fat treats start to appear. Take steps to treat your body well, and the same goes for your mind. Happy holidays!