Healthy for the Holidays

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: May 26, 2010

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year for most people, but it can also be a hectic and crazy time, and so many of us end up feeling exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed. People are running around shopping, decorating, cooking, and party hopping, and a lot can sometimes go neglected with all of this out-of-the-ordinary activity. Fortunately, there are some things you can keep in mind to keep your holiday time merry and bright.

  • Get adequate sleep. Even if your routine is interrupted by guests and/or travel, maintain a regular sleep schedule as much as possible.
  • Eat healthy, nutritious foods – Avoid getting into the fast-food routine because you’re busy.
  • Maintain your exercise program.
  • Avoid excessive drinking. You may end up with a hangover and/or feel drained and fatigued.
  • Take a high-potency multivitamin if you are not already doing so. You may want to take extra vitamin C to help boost your immune system.
  • Avoid taking on too much. You can’t do everything, and you will become stressed and fatigued if you try to.
  • Attend the parties you really want to go to, not the ones that you just feel obligated to attend.Streamline your shopping. Use the Internet or mail-order catalogs. Shopping from home will save you energy. In addition, you will avoid crowded stores.
  • Make private time. Relax, read, take a bath – time for yourself will rejuvenate and refresh you.

The best thing to do is not to over-schedule yourself. There’s always so much to do and to accomplish during this time of year, but you can only do so much. You shouldn’t pressure yourself into doing things you just don’t feel like doing. Give yourself some time and try to fit in some easy workouts. Even a 15-minute walk every day can reduce stress considerably.

Another helpful tip is to make lists of gifts you have to buy, people you want to send cards to, parties you’d like to attend, clothes you need to pack for traveling, etc. This way, you can keep yourself organized and won’t feel like you’re saving things until the last minute.