Holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, but they can also be stressful. You may feel compelled to give in to your sweet tooth, or you may get preoccupied with what everyone else is consuming. Yet, regardless of the type of holiday celebrations you’re having—from Thanksgiving dinner parties to Christmas Eve brunches—something here’s that will help keep your health in check: keeping healthy throughout the holidays involves making wise decisions every day. You’ll be able to enjoy all of your favorite meals without sacrificing their nutritious value if you follow the guidelines below!
Make sure you get enough sleep.
You will be sleepy during the holidays, and that’s completely normal. But when you’re sleep deprived and you still have to get up in the morning, it can be frustrating–and dangerous.
It’s important to get enough sleep so your body has enough energy to deal with stressors like family dinners and parties. If you don’t get enough restful hours every night (and especially on weekends), this can lead to problems such as irritability, fatigue or depression.
Think about how much time you spend in front of screens: computers, phones/tablets/laptops/TVs…that could mean several hours per night! That means if someone tells their kids they need help getting ready for Christmas Eve dinner at 8pm but then leaves them alone until 10pm because “they’ll be fine,” well…it won’t happen! You need between 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night–no excuses!
Eat healthy snacks.
- Eat a healthy snack before you go to a party.
- Choose snacks that are high in fiber and protein, such as an apple or banana with peanut butter, nuts or seeds. Avoid high-sugar foods like candy and soda–they may make you feel tired and irritable.
- If you’re going to be socializing at parties over the holidays, eat small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones spaced out through the night; this will help keep your blood sugar stable (and avoid overeating).
Don’t drink too much alcohol.
The holidays can be a great time to relax and enjoy yourself. But it’s important not to overdo it with alcohol. Drink responsibly, since alcohol is a depressant that can make you feel tired, hungrier and even sick!
Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to making bad decisions when you’re trying to get home from somewhere late at night or early in the morning after having too much fun partying all night long.
Try not to be around people who may be sick.
If you are sick, stay home and rest. If your symptoms persist for a week or more, see a doctor.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water–even if they feel clean already! Some people have an issue with their immune system that can lead to colds and other illnesses even when they feel fine.
- If you have been diagnosed with an illness like flu or strep throat (throat infection), follow the advice of your doctor so as not to spread it to others who may be susceptible to those same conditions because they are close by during holidays where there will typically be more people around than usual due to family gatherings occuring over long periods of time together at once without much time apart between them since this holiday season tends not only be one where we talk about what happened previous year but also anticipate what might happen next year so we need all hands on deck helping out wherever possible while still being able)
Exercise as much as possible!
Exercise is a great way to improve your health, especially over the holidays when many people eat more unhealthy foods than usual. In fact, exercise can help you feel happier and more confident. It can also help you sleep better and relieve stress! So make sure to get some exercise in every day during this time of year–it’s worth it!
Keep up good habits during the holidays to stay healthy and happy!
- Eat healthy foods.
- Get enough sleep.
- Drink lots of water and stay hydrated, which helps you feel better!
- Exercise regularly (even if it’s just walking around the block). It can help keep your body in shape while you’re away from your usual routine, so that when you get back home again, it doesn’t feel like an adjustment period at all!
- Avoid alcohol altogether if possible–it’s a great way to ease into holiday stress but can lead to unhealthy behaviors later on down the line if overindulged in too much booze during this time of year (which isn’t recommended anyway).
We sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this blog post! Being healthy is something we all value, but it may be challenging to stay on track around the holidays. We really hope that these tips will enable you to stay on course while still enjoying a good time with your loved ones.
