It is time to take back the holidays! Bestow a little extra kindness on yourself with these tips to ensure a happy health holiday.
Stress is bad for your health! It even goes so far as to possibly weaken your immune system, and increased cortisol levels can lead to unwanted weight gain, especially around the middle. Let some holiday stress out by trying out the following.
- Watch a funny holiday movie: Studies have shown that a good belly laugh is good for your health. So, the old adage "laughter is the best medicine" has some science behind it. In case you needed an extra reason to pull out your favorite classic holiday comedy, this is it!
- Get together: Another reason to attend and enjoy those holiday parties - a healthy social life and good friends have also been shown to decrease stress levels. Celebrate in moderation, don't over-schedule and don't overindulge. But enjoy to the fullest!
- Exercise: Don't let the busy holiday schedule cut into daily exercise, and shoot for 30 minutes. Take a walk, strap on some skates, break out the gaming system and move with your kids... go to the gym or studio if you love it, but remember that every kind of movement counts!
- Sleep: Shoot for those 7 - 9 recommended hours as often as possible. Depriving yourself of sleep to get "one more thing" done only sets you up for further stress and health challenges a little further down the road.
- Cut Corners: What do you do every holiday that only serves to stress you out? For me it was sending holiday cards. I could just never seem to get them done. So I gave myself permission to stop the mailing madness. Now I do them digitally. An little time designing, a few clicks of a mouse, and I blast our sincere holiday wishes out to loved ones via Facebook and email. Print just a few for the relatives not online, and I'm happily done.
- The Relatives: The holidays might be a time when you have to see some people who really just rub you the wrong way. Take control! If confrontation does happen, be assertive instead of aggressive (or passive aggressive). Assert feelings, opinions, and beliefs in an even tone. And remember... anger and hurt you carry rarely impacts the other person or effects change. But it does harm you. Care deeply enough for yourself to draw boundaries, and care enough to let go for your own health. As hard as it can be, focus on a deep breath and letting things slide as you can.
- The Budget: Set a holiday budget and stick to it. Seriously. Those bills that pile up in January will only serve to increase stress later on. Focus on less "stuff" and more quality time. Make memories... not more piles of stuff piled in a closet.
- Food and Drink: Fruits and veggies offer great antioxidants and nutrition - load up on these first at the parties, and enjoy the treats after. You should enjoy those holiday parties! What is good for the soul (time with friends, time to relax, time to laugh) is good for the body! But all things in moderation will serve you in the long term too.
Stay hydrated - alternate your class of holiday cheer with a glass of water too.
And finally... - Seek help if needed: For some, anxiety and depression are very real things that begins to impede on your life. It is okay to seek support. Doctors, therapists, and even health coaches like me are there to help you find balance when things spin too far out (**Health coaches will refer out for medical help as appropriate, we do not treat depression and anxiety, but can support your efforts as part of a great team in place.**)
Want to stay healthy in the New Year too? Contact me at colleen@WillowTreeWellnessCT.com or (860) 833-9788. I would love to speak with you!!
