4 Simple Tips for a Happy Holiday Season

The Holiday Season is upon us! Festivities abound and life can get stressful. We often feel as if there is so much to do and so little time. Along with our regular daily activities, we also have parties to attend, presents to buy, cards to send, family to see, friends to gather with, and so much more. And while we’re dashing around, here and there, trying to get it all done, we often snack on holiday treats, which are tasty yes, optimal fuel for our bodies, not so much.

So how can you cruise healthily through the holidays? Here are a few ideas.

1) REMEMBER to BREATH!! Okay now do it again. One more, inhale, slowly

and deeply, and exhale, slowly and deeply. Repeat. Breathe in, and out, from your belly. Your shoulders needn’t move. By breathing deeply, you start moving yourself out of ‘stressed out land’ and into the moment. You supply your body with rich, oxygenated blood, give your internal organs a nice little massage, and you relax. You can also combine a simple visualization exercise with your breathing. When you breathe in, try thinking of all the things that make you happy, make you smile, and imagine you’re taking in all those gifts. When you exhale, imagine that you’re blowing all the unhappy and stressful things in your life, far, far away. By taking a deep breath break a few of times a day you’ll manage stress better. So why not do it? It’s free, doesn’t take much time, and it’s so good for you!

2) MOVE your BODY!! Yes, I’m talking about exercising. If you’re

currently exercising, keep up the habit. If you’re not, develop it.

Get in at least three to four sessions of 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise. Go to the gym. Go for a walk. Dance around the house. When you go to the mall, do a few laps around it before you settle into your shopping. Take the stairs. Park farther away. All you need to do is keep moving. Regular moderate aerobic exercise keeps your heart operating at peak performance. It also helps to keep all your body’s systems humming along. So why not make an appointment with yourself to keep your heart, and the rest of your body, healthy?

You’ll be glad you did.

3) FEED your BODY!! Yes, I know all kinds of tasty holiday treats are

everywhere, and I know how tempting those decadent little delicacies can be, but please practice moderation. If you fuel your body with junk you simply won’t feel good. Your energy reserves will be low, your body won’t get the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, and, your mood will suffer. In other words you’ll turn into ‘Debbie Downer’ and that’s no fun, especially at the holidays. So take the time to fuel up for optimal performance. We all know the drill. Be sure to eat a good breakfast, lunch and dinner. In between, toss in some healthy snacks.

Feast on brightly colored vegetables and fruit, whole grains, good fats, and lean sources of protein. Avoid processed foods. Chew well and savor each healthy morsel. You deserve it! And, by all means, allow yourself to sample a few holiday treats. You don’t want to be ‘Debbie Downer’ but you also don’t want to be ‘Scrooge’!

4) FEED your SPIRIT!! We all have things to be grateful for, and

research has shown, gratitude is good for your health. So why not begin your day, and end your day, by making a list of your ‘gratefuls’

(all the things you’re grateful for). And as you go thru your day, remember to say please and thank you to the people you come in contact with. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it is all small stuff. Tell someone(s), you appreciate them and why. Draw your focus to what is going right and find ways to encourage more positivity. Play nice and be kind. Practice a random act of kindness each day. Smile. Help someone else smile. And when you go to bed at night, after you’ve gone over your ‘gratefuls’, you can sleep well knowing you helped to make it a good day, not just for you, but for others too.