5 Habits to Maintain Through the Holiday Season

As we swing into the holiday season, it’s easy for health to get pushed to the backseat as the hustle and bustle of the festivities take over. Instead of committing to a lofty list of health goals in the midst of a busy season, we recommend maintaining a few simple habits instead. You’ll be far more likely to keep them, and they’ll help keep you well in return!

Stay Well This Holiday Season with These 5 Habits

1. Eat until you’re satisfied, then stop.
   In this season when it’s common to overindulge, follow your body’s natural cues as to when you are satisfied and when you are hungry. When you’re not hungry, don’t eat. When you’re hungry, eat until you’re satisfied. Give a little extra intention to eating mindfully rather than snacking mindlessly.
   
   

2. Take a walk every day.
   Even if it’s just 10 minutes, make a daily walk a part of your regular routine. Walking is a super accessible form of exercise that you can do anywhere! It helps regulate blood sugar, supports immune health, and promotes healthy stress management. Aim for a walk a day!
   
   

3. Drink a glass of water after every cocktail.
   As the holiday cocktails start flowing, slow down your consumption and help your body metabolize the carbohydrates by staying hydrated in between drinks. For every cocktail, drink a glass of water afterwards. Try to avoid drinking on an empty stomach as well.
   
   

4. Block time for rest.
   The stressful schedule of the holiday season can easily crowd out our usual down time, leaving us overtired and overstimulated. Block some regular times on your calendar for rest–and then be sure to take it! Maybe it’s one or two evenings a week that are untouchable, or a half day every weekend with nothing on the calendar. Use these blocked times to catch up on sleep or just restful time at home.
   
   

5. Be intentional about having fun.
   Don’t let your seasonal to-do list squeeze the fun out of life. While stress can be higher at the holidays (parties and shopping and traffic, oh my!), it’s still a beautiful time of year to practice gratitude and find joy in doing fun things with those you love. Be intentional about scheduling fun! Go ice skating, look at lights, see a play, bake cookies, or watch Christmas movies in your PJs all day. Make time for making fun memories. 

Use simple habits to keep you on a healthy track this holiday season. Remember, habits don’t have to be complicated to be effective!