Get 7 Great Tips to Staying Healthy Through The Holidays

From the day after Halloween until January 2nd, we are inundated with holiday decorating, eating, entertaining, and shopping.  Depending on your situation, it may be a difficult time of year, a busy time and/or a complicated time. And of course the idea of staying healthy through the holidays isn’t always at the top of our list!

Today we are sharing some very helpful tips and suggestions from Christa Lyons, Functional Health Coach and an advocate for healthy living. Christa says “I’d like to give you some simple steps, so that no matter where you are at, you can enter into this time with intentional planning, so that you can enjoy the season and get to January 2nd, and beyond, with ease while feeling great.” Let’s see what she has to say!

Here are my tips for staying healthy through the holidays:
TIP #1: Stay hydrated
It is recommended that you drink about 1/2 of your body weight in ounces each day to be well hydrated. If you have a hard time measuring how much you are drinking, you can fill a 64 ounce pitcher with fresh water each morning and fill your stainless steel bottle or water glass from the pitcher, throughout the day. This is a great way to visually see where you are at with your water consumption. Your body may need more water than this, but this can be a great place to start.
Bonus tip: At holiday parties, if you are drinking alcohol, be sure to drink a glass of water in between drinks, and try to limit to 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks.

Tip #2: Don’t over schedule yourself
It can be so easy to get caught up in to-do lists and holiday parties while still maintaining your family, household and work. By keeping rest times in your calendar, ie. certain nights you stay home or days you catch up on home tasks, you can then plan for slower days and busier days. Always try to plan a slower day to follow a busier day.

Tip #3: Set aside time for self-care
Similar to tip #2, be sure to set aside time for self-care. This could mean booking a massage, or it could be as simple as sitting and reading a book with a hot cup of tea. By adding in things that help you feel enjoyment and relaxation, your body will have that time to rest and regroup. Overindulging in self-care is not selfish, it is essential to your well-being.

Tip #4: Have something to eat before the party
There is nothing more challenging to your willpower, than arriving to a party hungry, and being greeted with tables full of food. It’s so easy to start eating and think, “Oh my gosh, I don’t even care right now, I’m starving”. If you can eat a healthy snack or small meal before you go, you will be more apt to make healthier and intentional choices when you arrive.

Tip #5: Eat your veggies first
Always try to eat the veggies first. It may be a veggie and dip plate at a gathering or a plateful of Thanksgiving sides. When you fill up on healthy foods, there will naturally be less room for the heavy, sweet and salty treats.

Tip #6: Move every day
It’s so important to get movement each and every day. Especially at the holidays, when foods tend to be richer, sweeter and more abundant. Park a little further from the store. Take a walk in the mall and try to cover all of the levels. Do a free online class, one of my favorite exercise apps is called FitOn, they have lots of routines to choose from.

Tip #7: Enjoy each day
Have you ever gotten to January and looked back and thought “Wow, November and December were a complete whirlwind, they flew by!”? That happens when we get so busy with lots to do. Take time each day to breathe and quiet your mind, even a 10 minute break. This will help to ground you and to bring your mind to the present time. Try to enjoy the small moments, they can
pass so quickly.

The holidays can be a difficult time, especially when you are going through a divorce. As you
navigate family dynamics, kids, and all of the emotions and feelings, it’s so important to
remember to take some time for yourself, to help you through.

For more tips from Christa Lyons, contact her today!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, cheers to your health and good luck with your focus on staying healthy through the holidays!