With just two weeks until Christmas and only one week to the start of Hanukkah, it’s a time when holiday joy can quickly turn to holiday overwhelm! Each year it feels like there is less time and more “to do’s” on the list to prepare for the holidays. If you have little ones in the home, they can quickly feed off our mood, coupled with “on the go” meals when there is little time to cook, creating short tempers, lack of focus, along with a little anxiousness.
So how do you fit it all in, keep everyone balanced, and still enjoy holiday favorites?
It’s all about creating balance and planning now for some simple things to incorporate into your daily/weekly routine that can help alleviate some of the stress, and put you on your way to actually enjoying the holidays!
Here are steps that can help:
Balance… Did you know that added sugar and carbs can tip our mood to feeling more anxious and even sad, while zapping our energy? Yes, even zapping energy! We do get that burst of energy with the “sugar or caffeine high” but that quickly disappears leaving us with less energy than when we started.
Finding balance in our diet, mood, and energy while enjoying the delicious holiday foods can be challenging. To help keep your waist small, your stress low and your mood up, try these tips for overall good feelings.
Don’t skip meals before a party! This can actually backfire, especially when it comes to managing your weight by leaving us tired, craving all the wrong foods, and eating more.
Plan small balanced meals/snacks throughout the day…Try adding some light, whole food meals with lot’s of veggies & fruit to your diet during the day, and add a light protein snack an hour or so before heading off to a party. This will help you avoid overeating your delicious holiday favorites, and keep cravings at a minimum.
Skip the processed and fast foods as much as possible… Though it may seem like a quick, easy alternative they often contain additives and artificial ingredients that can throw our nutrition off balance leaving us with cravings, energy highs and lows, along with some unpleasant effects like the inability to focus, leaving both adults and children feeling out of sorts. So how do you avoid this with a busy holiday schedule?
Planning… If you are entertaining or having house guests;
- Plan your menu in advance and see what recipes you can prepare ahead of time
- Freeze holiday cookies, quiches, and other “make ahead” dishes
- Do this for everyday meals too, then…
- Defrost them a day in advance, with the work already done!
Exercise… Adding in just 20 minutes of exercise a day can really help to alleviate stress, reduce cravings, and help us feel renewed and energized. I know, you’re thinking “how can I possibly fit exercise in with everything else that’s going on”.
- Take a brisk walk while shopping in the mall, or take the dog for a walk
- Park further away when shopping
- Use the stairs rather than the elevator
- Don’t forget the kids for added activity to help them balance their energy too
And most of all, don’t forget to BREATHE!...Stay tuned next week for more tips, treats, and specifics on staying balanced and feeling great!
