7 Unique Ways to Stay Healthy for the Holidays

The Things You Won’t Find on Health Blogs

Every year, we seem to get the same advice from wellness experts, medical professionals, nutritionists, and gurus on how to navigate the holiday season successfully:

Drink more water. Sleep more. Don’t eat too many sweets.

Sure, these tips are fine, but this well-intended guidance (seemingly recycled by every  blog on the planet) is limiting and restrictive…and not to mention negative. 

Shouldn’t we be doing all that stuff during other parts of the year anyway, not just around the holidays?

Seems like the advice we get (and give ourselves) needs an upgrade.

Instead of pointing to things you CAN’T do this year, or just regurgitating the same ole’ stuff,  we decided to put a different spin on it…a more positive one.

Here are some new ways to keep ourselves happy and healthy this season; complete with things we should allow ourselves to do, things we should give ourselves, and things we should indulge in over the holidays.

Tip #1: Allow for Imperfections

Not enough time to get everything done before the big day?

Didn’t find that perfect gift for that special someone?

Stressing about…well, everything?

Here’s a tip when you’re feeling the burden of perfection weighing down upon you…find a mirror and say these two words to yourself:

Oh, well.  (*insert casual shrug)

Imperfections are sometimes the spice of life! And, hey, they also tend to make better stories.

Those moments when life doesn’t go according to plan teach us to be more patient, flexible, and adaptable.

So when you’re ready to pull out your hair, yell at traffic, or are sincerely worried about how things will turn out…just remember: everything is temporary, nothing is too great for you to overcome, and this, too, shall pass. 

Tip #2: Give Yourself a Time-Out

We’re not doling out parenting advice over here, but have you ever thought about why many children feel more calm after a few minutes alone? 

Similarly in the sports world, a time out is meant to stop the play as it stands, for the purpose of regrouping and resetting.

During that break, the previous play can be reviewed or plans can be made to make the next one even better.

If we look at it that way, we can harness the power of a time-out for ourselves instead of seeing it as a punishment. 

It can be a pretty effective method of redirecting thoughts and behavior, even as an adult.

In the midst of an epic meltdown, a time-out can help a person self-soothe and regain self-control. And, due to the elimination of stressors or stimuli, it can slow heart rate and lead to more focused breathing.

(You could also do what one parent did for her kids and call it “The Calming Corner”.)

Either way, get some alone time away from other people, your phone, or a computer and just breathe through the stressful moments. 

Doing this everyday – or a few times a day, if needed! – can significantly reduce tension, can help redirect behavior, and can improve responses to stress. 

Tip #3: Feed Your Mind

This time of the year can be very…distracting. But it’s important to remember that self-care isn’t  just about what you eat. It’s about what you consume. 

Scrolling social media can be fun, but that can feed the ego in unhealthy ways. (Or make it crave the wrong things.) 

Instead of going down the path of succumbing to stressors – or filling time with mindless indulgences – why not boost your brain power with some good old fashioned knowledge? 

And it doesn’t take much out of your day – or your wallet, even! – to fulfill a cerebral craving.

Reading a book, listening to a podcast about an interesting topic, watching a documentary, doing a puzzle…all of these activities are available to you, even if your days are stacked. 

Try making it a habit to block out 30 minutes of your day to consume something other than distractions.

Tip #4: Find Some Sun

It probably doesn’t take much to convince you that giving yourself the gift of glow is a good idea.

Getting some rays on your face (protected by sunscreen, of course) or simply getting outside to absorb Vitamin D can drastically improve your mood, help support your immune system, and can have significantly positive effects on other body and brain functions.

Even if it’s a chilly day, the sun has a knack for doing what it does best: bringing warmth into your life.

And there’s actually a scientific reason the sun can help you smile:

When sunlight reaches your eyes, photoreceptors tell your brain to conserve the hormone serotonin.

As serotonin levels rise, improvements can be seen in the body’s circadian rhythm  (sleep/hunger/etc.) and this can lead to more energy and alertness.  At the same time, nitric oxide in your skin widens blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure and heart rate, causing you to be in a more relaxed state.

And that’s why the big ball in the sky can be better than supplements during particularly hectic days. 

Tip #5: Look for Joy

Happiness is everywhere.

Even if you’ve got a chaotic home, a demanding job, or a multitude of other pressures surrounding you…joy can be found in all of it. 

Instead of wallowing beneath the surface of a stressful situation, try to float above it – almost picturing yourself outside of your own body – and see where you can capture a smile or two.

This is a good first step to what’s known as mindfulness.

Being mindful means that you are conscious of your thoughts and behaviors, as well as your physical and emotional responses. 

And, since mindfulness and gratefulness walk hand-in-hand, the best way to boost happy thoughts is to put giving thanks into practice! 

You can literally thank anyone or anything for, well, literally everything.

Thank yourself for being a good partner, parent, friend, or co-worker.
Thank the Earth for the food you eat or the ground you walk on.
Thank someone who has given you something, whether it’s your mail carrier, a food service worker, or simply a friend who said something you needed to hear.

See? It’s easy!

When you find yourself feeling taxed or maxed out, bringing joy to others can boost yours in kind.

Tip #6: Eat What You Love

Obsessed with green bean casserole? Love potato chips? 

We’re big fans of rewarding ourselves with good food, especially when we need it most.

This doesn’t mean we should all derail our goals on a whim and sacrifice hard work we’ve already put in…

But it DOES mean that we aren’t restricting ourselves so much that we’re not finding happiness in the little pleasures of life.

In fact, studies show that guilty pleasures can actually be good for you! Here’s why:

It’s said that people who are happier are more productive. So, prioritizing your wants – and giving yourself a big “thank you” every now and again  in the form of things you crave – can actually help you navigate challenges simply by boosting your mood.

So there’s the takeaway.

Smile and enjoy your favorite snack once in a while, without feeling bad about it. 

While we’re at it…let’s stop calling them “guilty pleasures”, shall we? How about “Guiltless Rewards”? (We’ll keep workshopping that phrase, but you get the idea.)

And if you’re worried about the side effects of enjoyment…don’t.

As long as you’re nourishing your body with whole foods, water, and all of the other things that are good for us (see every other health blog), you’re doing JUST fine.

Tip #7: Allow Yourself to Indulge

This might seem repetitive after the last tip, but this one isn’t about food.

Indulgence does not mean binging or gorging; because it’s not just about what you eat.

Mindful indulgence can be applied to anything you consume, whether you’re nourishing your mind (Tip #3) or feeding your face (Tip #6). 

And there’s a fine line between giving yourself some enjoyment  and losing control. (That’s where the mindful part comes in.) 

To indulge means to “allow oneself the pleasure of”…
And to be mindful, if you recall, means to “be aware of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors”…

So, with those combined, you get: being conscious and finding pleasure in allowing yourself to have the things you love.

This might mean you give yourself the time to dive into a project you’ve always wanted to tackle.
It might mean you immerse yourself in learning a new skill or acquiring a new hobby.
It might even mean you lose yourself in a thrift store for an hour or two as you ogle at all of the antique goodies.

Whatever your indulgence may be, just be sure to be mindful of it (making sure that it’s not harmful to yourself or others) and give yourself the epic gift of freedom to explore it.

From The Bottom of Our Mugs

We hope you take these tips and begin to weave them into your own life so you can thrive as a happy and healthy human. 

Here’s to a wonderful holiday season, from all of us at Kettle & Fire!