Sit down, breathe, and check out these tips to a “stress-free” holiday season…
With only two weeks until Christmas it’s easy to feel the “holiday” overwhelm with “to do” lists, entertaining, gift shopping, and trying to balance it all with work and life. If you’re like me and are just getting started, it’s easy for the “panic” to creep in with the countdown on to house guests, entertaining, and Christmas.
In addition to your own overwhelm, you may notice the children around you starting to get anxious and maybe a little more overactive than usual. They can feed off our stress, as well as feeling the direct results of those “rushed, on-the-go” meals when there is so much to do and so little time to cook! So how do you fit it all in and keep everyone balanced?
Starting to plan 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 some steps that can help:
Balance… 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.
In an attempt to avoid weight gain, skipping meals when you have a party to attend is often the choice of many. Is this the best choice? It can actually backfire, especially when it comes to managing your weight by leaving us tired, craving all the wrong foods, and eating more.
Balance w/Food…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 and keep cravings at a minimum. Skipping the processed and fast foods as much as possible can help too. They may seem like a quick, easy alternative but 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, using the stairs, you know the drill…
- 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 some specifics on grounding foods and hydration and how these can keep you balanced and feeling great.
