Are you anxious about the upcoming holiday season? Have a ton of gifts to buy, worried about family dynamics, traditions to fulfill and worried about all of the holiday treats that you’re going to enjoy?

First, take a moment to breathe and remember that it’s okay to say “no” to obligations, not to do every holiday tradition that you’ve always done. You can also surround yourself this holiday season with people that enhance your whole experience, versus those that zap your energy. It’s also okay to say “no” to treats that you don’t actually enjoy -- and to say “yes” to time for yourself.

Here are some of the ways that I am planning to stay on track this holiday season – and make myself a priority.

 

  1. Say no to obligations, outings and traditions that don’t matter. Or at least postpone them until after the New Year. This will hopefully free up an extra hour a week that you can enjoy a workout, get an extra hour of rest or cross some necessary items off of your to do list. Mental clutter and lack of rest just cause more stress.
  2. Movement matters. Schedule movement dates versus meal dates. Instead of making all social get-togethers about eating or drinking, try being merry in other ways. Schedule a coffee walk with a friend, go sledding with your friends and their kids, enjoy a candle light hike or snowshoeing. A lot of joy and conversation can be had during a simple walk around your neighborhood, too.
  3. Speaking of walking … after you have enjoyed a larger meal or some extra treats, try to incorporate 20-30 mins of walking afterwards. The extra movement will help combat those extra calories that you were able to enjoy.
  4. Focus on drinking more water each day. And have a refillable bottle of water with you at all times. Sometimes when we are hungry or bored – we are actually thirsty. Drinking more water will help keep you fuller and keep you hydrated during this colder, dryer months.
  5. Log your food regularly. Doing a daily check-in with yourself will help keep your daily diet in check. This will avoid a half dozen days of celebrating becoming one or two months worth of excessive eating and treats. If you don’t have the time to track a full day, try at least tracking until lunchtime to keep half of your day more mindful. You can also try to write down your bites (broccoli, chicken sandwich, Caesar salad) versus your exact foods, calories, and portions. A little mindfulness will go a long way.
  6. Try to embrace 30 mins of movement a day. This doesn’t have to make you sweat or make you feel exhausted. But just moving your body in a way that brings you joy and making yourself a priority during this busy time will make your mind and body feel lighter by the end of the season.
  7. Weigh yourself on a regular basis. I am not going to recommend a frequency for weighing yourself during the holiday season. But I would like to suggest weighing yourself consistently and regularly. This may be once a day or once a week or every time you stop by the gym. I would also suggest weighing yourself at the same time of day. Doing consistent check-ins with yourself is a good idea. But you should also be mindful about how often you are doing this. Weighing yourself too often can also spark a fixation about the number on the scale.
  8. Skip the cocktails and the mocktails and the seasonal holiday beverages. These are easy calories that compound and derail all that movement you are doing. If you really enjoy them this season, by all means enjoy them in moderation. But be careful about slamming one beverage after another.