How to be healthier during the holidays this year
3 min read by Megan Rea
If you could ever use a cause for celebration, it’s now, am I right?
2020 has been a LOT. On every level.
And even though it might be uber tempting to throw caution to the wind and end this year with a big fat, “WHATEVER, I am spending all the money and eating all the things,”
Let’s… not do that.
Because if this year has taught us anything, it’s that prioritizing our physical and mental health is a must. So, what do you say we do that but, NOT get overwhelmed in the process?
I know overhauling everything and committing to exercise 4 hours a day, eating kale salads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, being dogmatic about your calendar, and having all the gifts purchased by Cyber Monday (whoops!) may seem like the “best” way to do Christmas 2020.
But, that sounds really stressful.
Instead, we want to help you rebuild your holidays this year, but do it from the inside out. It’s possible to control what you can control, and let go of everything else. You can’t control other people, your family, the weather, or what everyone else decides to bring to your Holiday Dinner.
But, you can be in charge of yourself, your choices, and your responses.
Let’s not be all of nothing. Let’s LIVE! Let’s celebrate and simply commit to prioritizing our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health a little more in the process.
Maybe like 10%. You in? Here are 6 simple ways to do that.
1. Name what matters
I cannot take credit for this simply genius phrase, but Kendra Adachi can and I’m reading her book right now. Name what matters. What matters to you and your family this holiday season and maybe even more importantly, what doesn’t? A few Christmas’ back, I shared with you our “Christmas un-bucket list.” It’s the list of things I choose not to do at Christmas. You can read it here. Your list will and should look different than mine.
What matters to you, not every year, but this year. This holiday season. And what doesn’t? Be confident with your choices and stick with them. You can’t prioritize everything this season, so what REALLY matters to you and yours?
2. Build activity into your tradition:
Last year, Chris and I started a new Thanksgiving tradition.
Thanksgiving kickboxing. Ok, well, I kickboxed at the gym while he worked out, but still. Try building activity into your tradition this year and bonus points if you involve your people. Maybe you have a family dance-off after dinner or you get in a Fit Bit war to see who can get the most steps between dinner and dessert. Activity, especially on days that center around all the food and movie watching, is so important. You’ll just feel better.
Plus, exercise boosts your immune system, increases your blood flow, improves your digestion, your sleep, and not to mention mental health. You don’t need more convincing than that do you? 🙂
3. Bring a healthy option with you
I can thank food allergies for teaching me this strategy. 🙂 If you’re not sure what the menu is or if you’ll feel worse after eating than better, why not bring a healthy side dish that you can both eat for yourself and share with others? (here are some of mine)Your health is not a victim of someone else’s choices and it’s worth prioritizing. And in the same breath, I say….
4. Don’t stress about indulging once or twice
The mental game of beating yourself up is probably much worse for you than the 3 pieces of your Aunt’s ah-mazing fudge you just downed. If you make a choice to eat something, savor it. Enjoy it. Just don’t let it be the gateway for eating 14 cinnamon rolls every day from now until 2021 for second breakfast.
5. Set a budget and stick to it
Debt can add emotional stress to your holidays like nothing else. Talk to your family ahead of time and set realistic expectations. We did an entire episode of the show on how to avoid Holiday Debt. Watch it here.
6. Take a few supplements
Lots of things can compromise your immune system, so why not give it a little boost? If you’re new to supplements, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 (with K2 if possible), Zinc, Echinacea and Elderberry are a great way to bolster your immune system in the Winter months.
Hope isn’t a strategy. The truth is 2020 Holidays will probably look a little different anyway. Why not embrace it? Plan for things to be different, be a little flexible, and make the most of it. Which tip do you need to implement the most this season? Guess who believes you can do it? This chick 😉
Until next time,
Megan
