1. Stay hydrated! And I don't mean with the holiday libations, which are sure to be flowing! Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water each and every day. The old saying is eight ounces of water, eight times a day. But, most importantly, pay attention to your body. If you feel thirsty, drink more water; if you're working out, drink more water. It is great for your skin - especially in these drier winter months. (And avoid sugary, carbonated drinks at all costs! So detrimental to your overall health and skin!)
2. Make time for working out! With all of the additional flurries of holiday activities, shopping, gatherings, etc in addition to regular schedules, it can be very easy to push time for working out to the back burner saying "Oh, I"ll do twice as much tomorrow..." If needed, wake up an extra thirty minutes earlier and tackle your workouts in the morning. For me, the mornings are easiest because after work/school our nights are always filled with something else going on and I would never workout if I saved it all for the end of the day/night.
3. Eat Healthy! I know, I know - you're probably thinking "you must be crazy, it's the holidays and I"m going to enjoy every minute of it!" I"m not saying not to enjoy what you're eating, but be conscious of the fact that you will probably be eating more of the higher-calorie foods during the holiday season and adjust your intake accordingly. Keep your fridge stocked with lots of high-fiber fruits, cruciferous veggies, lean meats, protein, complex carbs! Set out a menu for the week and stick to it! This way you're not trying to come up with a lunch or dinner idea at the last minute and then resorting to something that is completely unhealthy, high-calorie, high-fat, high-cholesterol.
4. Get plenty of rest! It is so ultra-important that you get plenty of rest each night, so that your body can recuperate from the day and come back ready to tackle the next day! As adults, we really should be getting a solid eight hours of sleep a night and our children should be getting ten to twelve hours each night, according to pediatricians. This allows our bodies to refresh and renew before the new day. A full night's rest will allow you to have more energy, be more productive, be happier! Depending on what time you have to get up, simply make sure that you are actually in bed eight hours prior to that - TV off, books closed, laptops/tablets/phones powered off. True sleep.
5. Be Social! As if that even needed to be said, but being social and with friends and family, can really boost your happiness levels. And that is soo important, especially considering that many people suffer from seasonal depression. Surround yourself with those that are fun, inspiring, that you love and increase your own happiness levels!
These are some of the things that I really focus on each holiday season and it makes everything so much more merry and bright, and definitely less stressful!
Wishing you all a very healthy and Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy Hannukah!
© Cruzin' Thru | 2013