The holiday season is a wonderful time of year filled with joy, celebration, and gratitude. But it can also be a challenging time for your health and wellness. Between the cold weather, the festive food and drink, and the busy schedule, it can be hard to maintain your healthy habits and avoid getting sick.
But don’t worry – you can still enjoy the holidays without sacrificing your health. Here are 10 tips to help you stay healthy and happy during this festive season:
- Stay hydrated. Water is essential for your body to function properly. It helps you flush out toxins, regulate your temperature, lubricate your joints, and prevent dehydration. Dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, dry skin, constipation, and increased appetite. To stay hydrated, drink at least 8 glasses of water per day, drink more water if you exercise or consume alcohol, drink water before and after meals to help you feel full and digest better, drink water instead of sugary drinks, carry a reusable water bottle with you, and add some flavor to your water with lemon, cucumber, mint, or berries12.
- Avoid overeating. The holidays are full of delicious food and drink, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat everything in sight. Overeating can lead to weight gain, indigestion, bloating, and guilt. To avoid overeating, eat regular meals and snacks throughout the day, don’t skip breakfast, eat slowly and mindfully, listen to your hunger and fullness cues, use smaller plates and utensils, limit your portions and servings, choose nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables first, avoid going back for seconds or thirds, and savor every bite13.
- Boost your immune system. The holidays are also a time when many people get sick with colds and flus. To boost your immune system and fight off infections, eat foods that are rich in vitamin C, zinc, and antioxidants, such as citrus fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, and garlic. You can also take supplements or drink herbal teas that support your immunity14.
- Manage stress. Stress can have a negative impact on your health and mood. It can weaken your immune system, raise your blood pressure, increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes, cause headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. To manage stress during the holidays, find healthy ways to cope with it, such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, massage, aromatherapy, music therapy, or talking to a friend or a therapist. You can also reduce stress by planning ahead, setting realistic expectations and boundaries, delegating tasks, asking for help, saying no to things you don’t want to do12.
- Stay active. Physical activity is one of the best ways to stay healthy during the holidays. It helps you burn calories and fat as well as prevent weight gain. You can focus those New Years resolutions on something other than losing all the weight you put on during the holidays.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep is vital for your health and well-being. It helps you restore your energy, repair your tissues, regulate your hormones, and boost your immune system. Lack of sleep can impair your mood, memory, concentration, and metabolism. To get enough sleep, aim for at least seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night, stick to a regular sleep schedule, avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine before bed, limit screen time and exposure to blue light at night, and create a comfortable and dark sleeping environment12.
- Perform short workouts. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym to stay fit during the holidays. You can perform short and effective workouts that fit your schedule and preferences. For example, you can do high-intensity interval training (HIIT), circuit training, or Tabata workouts that burn calories and fat in a short amount of time. You can also do bodyweight exercises, resistance band exercises, or yoga that you can do anywhere without any equipment13.
- Try a Group Fitness class. If you need some motivation and accountability to stay active during the holidays, you can try a Group Fitness class at EōS Fitness3. Group Fitness classes are fun and social ways to exercise with other people who share your goals and interests. You can choose from a variety of classes that suit your fitness level and style, such as Zumba, Pilates, Spin, Boot Camp, and more. You can also enjoy the benefits of having a certified instructor who will guide you through the workout and provide feedback and support3.
- Find healthy holiday recipes. You don’t have to miss out on your favorite holiday dishes if you want to eat healthy. You can find healthy holiday recipes that are delicious and nutritious, and that use wholesome ingredients and smart cooking methods. For example, you can make roasted turkey with cranberry sauce, mashed cauliflower with garlic and herbs, roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar, pumpkin pie with almond flour crust, and mulled apple cider with cinnamon and cloves14.
- Invite the family to stay healthy with you. Staying healthy during the holidays can be easier and more enjoyable if you invite your family to join you. You can make it a family affair to eat well, exercise, and relax together. For example, you can cook healthy meals as a team, go for a walk or bike ride after dinner, play board games or cards instead of watching TV, or meditate or read a book before bed. You can also share your health goals with your family and ask them for their support and encouragement12.
I hope these 10 tips help you stay healthy and happy during the holidays. If you have any questions or need more help, feel free to ask me anything. 😊
1. verywellfit.com 2. cdc.gov 3. eosfitness.com 4. maxliving.com