Can you believe it’s November already? I’m not quite sure how this year is soon coming to an end and that the holiday season is upon us. During this often chaotic and stressful time of year, for many running around like crazy to complete errands, prep for parties, and shop for friends and loved ones takes precedence to nourishing oneself and prioritizing health.
Here are a few tips to consider implementing during the next few months to stay grounded and to not stray too far off track from your health goals.
Take some time for yourself. While hosting a holiday party and shopping for gifts may be fun for some, it can create stress and put extra pressure on certain individuals. Make it a point to set some time aside for alone time and to nurture yourself whether it’s partaking in meditation, getting a massage or simply saying “no” to an invitation if it’s going to put unnecessary burden on you and your health.
Don’t wait until January. For some, the idea of sticking to a health plan and regimen during November and December seems pointless. These individuals may use the mentality of, “Well there’s Thanksgiving and I have a few dinners to attend and then next is my holiday work party and then two family Christmas parties, so I might as well get back on my diet come January”. I WOULD NOT recommend taking this approach. Rather than sabotaging a few months, I’d encourage you to do your best while attending those parties (food-wise) and adhere to your healthy eating plan on all the other days where you’re not tempted by party food and indulgences. Don’t treat this as an all-or-nothing affair and let your health take the back burner.
Prioritize sleep. During times of stress, sickness, and recovery from illness, we need to sleep more. It is difficult sometimes to do just this when demands from multiple corners of our lives all seem to vow for our attention. Remember that they can wait and that without rest and time to allow yourself to rebuild and replenish overnight, you will not be able to tackle life to the best of your ability. If you suspect you are wiped out and need more sleep than usual, by all means allow yourself that valuable time and don’t feel guilty about it.
Get outdoors. Take a walk with a friend, go for a short hike, soak up some vitamin D while it may still be around before Winter kicks in. Don’t let the lack of time and your agenda keep you from exercising. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout to yield stress reduction benefits. Keep it simple and just get outside and do something that you enjoy.
If you enjoyed reading 4 Tips to Stay Grounded and Nourished: Prioritizing Health During the Chaotic Holiday Months, please share this post with a friend so that they too can learn a thing or two.
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Mike is a holistic nutritionist that helps people feel more optimistic about their health and wellness through changes in diet and lifestyle shifts.
He has authored posts and articles featured on MarthaStewart.com, today.com, and iVillage.com.