To Your Health
December, 2023 (Vol. 17, Issue 12) |
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Finish the Year Strong
By Editorial Staff
With 2023 winding down, the average person is ultra-focused on the holiday season and all that it entails, from family get-togethers and company parties; searching for that "perfect gift" for the favorites in your life; to even just finding a little time to relax amid the holiday madness. Too often lost in the maze: the exercise, nutrition and lifestyle habits you've stuck with all year up to this point.
Before you throw in the proverbial towel and resign yourself to "picking it back up" in the new year, think about how much more rewarding it would be if you prioritized your own health and wellness right through the holiday season and into 2024? Here are three tips for keeping your focus in that regard:
- Modify your schedule: Holiday obligations might keep you from exercising on the same schedule you've maintained all year, but that doesn't mean you should stop exercising altogether. You might have to modify your schedule, but make one – and stick to it! Used to hitting the gym at 5:00 p.m. after work? You might need to change it up and work out before work for a few weeks. (Remember, you also can get a great high-intensity workout in 15-20 minutes without leaving your home if you can't find time to get to the gym.)
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Make your meals count: We all know the holidays mean one thing when it comes to food: more high-calorie, sugary meals and desserts. Don't drive yourself crazy trying to avoid your favorites; enjoy the holiday season – but keep including as many high-quality, nutritious foods as possible. Healthy eating is as much about the nutritious foods you eat as much as the not-so-nutritious ones that come calling over the holidays. So eat a few cookies and your mom's mac & cheese; but make sure your daily diet is chock full of fruits, veggies and whole grains to help counterbalance it.
- Find time for you: You time goes out the window during the holidays for most people, even though it's even more critical to your health and well-being when things get hectic. So focus on even the small moments when you can relax and rejuvenate – by scheduling a spa day (after all, you just bought a gift certificate there for someone you know), getting to sleep at as regular a time as possible, and minimizing stress with deep breathing, meditation, daily walking and more.
Here's wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season – and an even better 2024!
