5 Healthy Holiday Tips for Better Wellness and the Best Season

Happy holidays friends! I hope you are enjoying this very special time of year. Are you ready for some healthy holiday tips? I thought it would be appropriate, especially since life can be SO busy right now. In fact, this is the time of year when many people gain weight and/or let health and wellness goals fall by the wayside. But that doesn’t have to be you! Whatever you do, do NOT give up on those goals now! It’s totally possible to enjoy the season AND stay healthy. All you need is some awareness and proactive action. And think about it this way: how you end this year could be how you start the new year. Don’t you want to start next year in a powerful healthy way? Yes, you do! So check out my 5 favorite healthy holiday tips for better wellness and the very best season!

Healthy Tip #1: Beware of Hidden Sugars Within Drinks

Let’s be honest, this is one of the best times of the year because of the extra special splurges that we eat and drink. We know to look out for the food, but I think holiday drinks are often overlooked which is why I’m highlighting them here. Unfortunately, they often include hidden ingredients like sugar. Here’s why you should care: studies show that too much added sugar consumption can lead to fatigue, lower energy levels, belly bloat, acne, weight gain, higher blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels, and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Yipes!

But never fear because there is something we can do about it! We can work to limit our added sugar consumption. By the way, added sugars are those that have been added to food (and drinks) during preparation, processing, or the meal at the table. So be on the lookout for holiday cocktails, ciders, hot chocolates, and even specialty coffees. Most likely they are laden with added sugar. While you don’t have to rule them out completely, you should consume them in moderation and drink more water. Also, consider sugar-free (or lower sugar) substitutes, or don’t drink all of it. All of these are definitely reasonable options that will still allow you to enjoy these special seasonal treats!

Healthy Tip #2: Maintain Schedules

This tip makes the list because it is so easy to break your normal routine during the holidays. After all, you’re busier and it’s hard to get everything done in a normal day. You may find yourself staying up later and/or getting up earlier to get it all done. But as I describe here, getting good quality sleep helps prevent serious health issues. And, you can easily prevent sleep deprivation by creating and maintaining a consistent bedtime and rise time for the entire week. Our bodies like a consistent routine. A bedtime and wake-up time help to regulate our sleep cycles. In setting a bedtime, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Plus, try to plan for possible unexpected distractions by getting ready for bed as soon as you get home.

Healthy Tip #3: Maintain Eating Patterns

If you regularly eat three meals a day and one or two snacks a day, do your best to maintain that eating pattern during the holidays. Why? If you change it up too drastically, it could impact your metabolism. Here’s what I mean. Spacing out your meals and snacks to occur every 3-4 hours is a good thing because it keeps your metabolism working throughout the day and you burn more calories (because your body has to use energy to digest the food). However, if you think it would be smarter to skip all meals/snacks just to save your calories for the big holiday meal, that would be a mistake. When you have large gaps of time between large meals, your metabolism isn’t working and you don’t burn as many calories. Instead of skipping meals in anticipation of a large holiday meal, try drinking water (always a good tip) and eating smaller meals during the day instead. That way, your metabolism keeps working throughout the day, and you might eat less during the big meal because your stomach won’t be completely empty.

Healthy Tip #4: Keep Moving

As tempting as it may be to take a nap after a large holiday meal, resist the temptation! Doing something as simple as taking a walk can do the body good. Here’s why…not only do you have an opportunity to burn off some of the calories you just ingested but exercise can help combat abdominal bloating. Exercise will also help to boost your metabolism, especially if it’s high intensity. And, if you don’t have a workout routine, think of this as the best time to start one. A new year is coming my friend and a new year can mean a new YOU is on the horizon! Read my blog post about ways to start a new fitness routine. You can also follow me on Instagram for additional fitness tips and fitness challenges!

Healthy Tip #5: Keep a Gratitude Journal

This time of year can be so challenging for a number of reasons: busier schedules, financial hardships, health issues, loss of loved ones, etc. Just one of these challenges can be a lot to bear during the holidays. But that is exactly why I strongly advocate starting/keeping a gratitude journal now. It will help you center your attention on what’s important and what is positive in your life. Have you heard the saying “where your mind goes, energy flows”? It is so true! You should make every effort to hone in on those bright areas of life because they are there.

Keeping a gratitude journal doesn’t have to be highly sophisticated. Here’s how it works: grab any notebook (a basic spiral notebook is perfect). Choose the best time of day to complete this exercise (morning or evening) then write down 5-10 things for which you are grateful. Repeat this process for at least 21 days to establish a habit. The best part? When you feel down, just grab your journal and review some of your gratitude entries. Your spirits will be instantly lifted!

Friends, I wish you the happiest of holidays this year and beyond. I hope these healthy holiday tips help you maintain all of your health and wellness goals. In addition, I hope they help YOU start the new year even stronger!

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