It’s that time of year again! With the holiday season fast approaching, everyone is gearing up for delicious feasts, delectable treats, and cozy indoor activities. While holiday traditions and treats should still be enjoyed, it’s also a great time to stay on track with your health and wellness goals. Achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires planning and consistency, and instead of waiting until the new year to “make up” for indulgences, start building healthy habits before the season begins.
Here are some tips to help you balance your traditions with healthy habits:
- Create a meal plan ahead of time. Whether it’s your typical day or a holiday celebration, planning your meals in advance will help you monitor what you’re eating, and how much.
- Reduce the amount of fat and sugar in your baking. You don’t have to give up your favorite holiday desserts! Try making them healthier by cutting down on sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats in your recipes. If you’re worried about the flavor, try adding some spices like nutmeg, all spice, or cinnamon. You can even use extracts such as vanilla, almond, pumpkin, etc.
- Stay active. Whether you go to the gym, take the kids to the park, or go on walks with the dog, keep yourself moving throughout the week. Getting your heart rate up is the key to staying healthy. If you turn it into a family activity, you’ll get in the workout and still get to spend quality time with your loved ones.
- Get plenty of sleep. The holiday season can be busy and stressful. It’s also common to stay up late celebrating or spending time with your loved ones but try to stick to your regular sleep schedule as best you can. If you must break your curfew, try to make sure you can sleep in a little later the next morning.
If you know what to do, but struggle to stay motivated, don’t worry – you’re not alone! If you need help creating a plan or tracking your progress, consider joining Lifestyle 365. Our exercise specialists are happy to help you find success on your journey by creating an exercise routine based on your goals and checking in with you throughout the program. Don’t wait for the new year – finish the year off strong!
This content was derived from the following additional resources:
- 7 tips for a healthy holiday season – Mayo Clinic Health System
- Holiday Stress? Try Our Top 5 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season | American Heart Association
- Healthy Holidays | Nutrition.gov
Story by Jessica Weinmann, Exercise Specialist, Lifestyle Medicine
