If there were two words to sum up the holiday season I think they’d be “stress” and “joy” simultaneously. There is so much fun to have and food to eat. Packed schedules can be fun and stressful. All the holiday treats can be fun and stressful.
And with Thanksgiving not long after Halloween, I’m sure you will still have pumpkin-shaped Reese’s cups stuffed in the candy drawer where your Christmas tree Reese’s are going to go after Thanksgiving.
So right now I want you to take a deep breath with me. Inhale for 1-2-3-4, exhale for 1-2-3-4.
I’m going to do my best to give you my top tips on the burning question:
How do I stay healthy during the holidays?
Now, I’ll admit it – this is a hard question to answer when the holidays (Thanksgiving especially) are basically organized around food. It almost encourages that last supper mentality, which is you saying to yourself, “I have to eat as much as I can of this right NOW because I won’t be able to have it again until next year!”
So here is my first tip: Only eat what you know you really will enjoy.
There have been so many times in my life that I’ve struggled with last supper eating, knowing it’d be a full year until I got to eat some of these foods again. But the truth is, I wasn’t exactly psyched about all of the foods I was dying to eat. If I picked up something I didn’t love, I’d eat it anyway. I did this often and I wasn’t satisfied but I sure was full. There are going to be SO many food options. Pick the ones you’re really into and savor it.
My next tip is: get some exercise.
This is not the “work-off-what-you-ate” mentality. HELL NO. We are not doing that shit. There are dozens of benefits of exercising that have nothing to do with burning calories.
What are some benefits of exercise?
- Improved mood
- Getting out some energy or frustrations about your to-do list (if you think exercise takes away from your time to mark things off the list, think again. Exercise will help you stay more focused and motivated to complete tasks.
- Taking time for yourself
- Better sleep
- Increased appetite for all the indulgent foods to come
See, there is more to exercise than burning calories. If you think you don’t have time, then make time. Carve out time midday or get up a half hour earlier a few days a week. You will feel better I promise!
Another tip I have for you is to learn how to say no.
Only take on what you feel like you can take on. Only eat what you want to eat. When you’re not into something it’s guaranteed to be an unsatisfying experience. You have limited time on this Earth! Don’t use your time eating foods you don’t want to eat and doing things you don’t want to do. This is going to add to your stress and if you’re a stress eater, it’s going to lead to overeating.
I could go on but those are my top 3! Did I miss any?