So, we’ve made it past the barrage of bargain-priced candy and we’re rushing full-speed toward some of the yummiest, most stressful, most celebrated times of the year!
With all of the chaos of our new normal trying to be crammed into fewer daylight hours and coordinating darker moods, it’s easy to let some things slide. And honestly, THAT’S OKAY.
It’s okay if your dishes sit in the sink a day or two longer than usual. It’s okay if you aren’t jumping right on that mountain of laundry. It’s okay to have a glass of wine with friends and really appreciate all that this wonderful season has to offer.
What’s NOT okay is completely sidelining your self-care while you do it. It’s not okay to treat your body poorly and still expect it to function well. It’s not okay to forego everything healthy in favor of everything sugar-laiden and “special”.
So how exactly can you strike a happy balance that doesn’t knock you off track and preserves the lifestyle you want?
To be honest, there is no easy answer to that question. Each and every situation and person is different, so you need to be able to introspect and figure out what works for you. To help you get started, this post features some tips that I use, as well as some ideas I like from fellow bloggers and Pinterest-ers. Here’s to inspiration!
1. Out of Sight, Out of Mind
I don’t know about you, but if I don’t have my planner in front of me, I can’t remember a darn thing. Especially when this time of year rolls around, we often rush through our days in a haze and wonder “where did all that time go?” or “am I forgetting something?” Workouts have a tendency to slip right out of our minds, especially at this time of year. To help myself remember that I have a responsibility to my health, I post my workouts where I see them every day!
2. The Closet Workout
Because you don’t always need a lot of space to do a lot of awesome.
Another obstacle, especially in colder climates, is not wanting to get outside to do your workout. Particularly when it starts getting dark outside just after lunch (or so it seems). One great way to work around this is to utilize what I refer to as “the closet workout.” Even if your home isn’t very big and doesn’t have a dedicated workout space, you can still find a place to get in a good workout and help maintain your health. If you have clear space the size of a shoebox closet (about shoulder width and about a person-length), you have plenty of space for a great workout! Use body weight exercises, and revisit the basics. A great resource for these types of workouts can be found at bodyrock.tv and grokker.com!
3. Favorite Foods, Reinvented!
Photo from Fit Foodie Finds
Some of our favorite elements of the season are traditional foods and sweets! So how can you get through the holidays without feeling deprived or guilty? This post from fellow blogger Lee at Fit Foodie Finds details how to make healthier versions of your favorite fare, and it’s not the only one out there! A quick search for ‘healthy baking substitutions’ or ‘healthy thanksgiving’ will yield hundreds of options for your viewing and eating pleasures.
4. Clean Your Plate!
Image property of John W. Golden
I know, I know, we just came off of that yummy looking Thanksgiving food post. But I’m actually NOT talking about food on this one. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with responsibilities, events, and planning one thing after the next (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, anyone? Heaven forbid you have birthdays in that stretch, too!!). So instead of trying to do it all and getting really stressed out and probably choosing to nix the workout or sleep in favor of completing your task list, CLEAN YOUR PLATE. Really analyze what’s on your list to see what you HAVE to do versus what you CHOOSE to do. Even removing one thing for a short time can help you rediscover balance and find peace. For example, I haven’t posted a substantial article in probably a month or more. I love blogging, and you have been amazing at reading it and going on this journey with me, but sometimes I need to be realistic and accept that I can’t do everything. And I’m okay with that. Just removing my weekly writing allowed me to focus on myself a little more, spend time with the hubs (finally!), and really be present for some important family events. And once I was ready to pick it up again, here we are! That’s the nice thing about these kinds of tasks that you can pick up and put down; they wait for you.
5. Decaf Tea
There are SO MANY options!
One of the things I hear most often about holiday favorites is….Warm Drinks! Whether you’re a Starbucks fan or just really enjoy your hot chocolate, drinks are a sneaky way to get too many calories. We don’t often think about hot chocolate or apple cider as a main source of calories, but it’s easy to go overboard with tasty beverages at this time of year. Help yourself out by alternating your warm beverage of choice. Warm decaf tea can provide you with all kinds of delicious flavor, without as many extra caloric “fluff”. Plus, laying off the caffeine can help your digestion, sleep cycles, mood, and all kinds of other body functions!
6. Commercial Break Workouts
**All exercises can be modified to your current ability level. Just because its written this way doesn’t mean it MUST be done this way!
Let’s face it: sometimes you’re hanging out with family for the holidays and they don’t want to do ANYTHING active. While it might seem that your only options are to either not work out or not spend precious time with family and friends, there is another option!
Okay, there are probably lots of other options, and this is just one that I’ve found works out pretty well.
While watching your favorite holiday specials on tv, do something active during the commercial break. It can be as sophisticated (or not) as you want. Walk around the kitchen until your show comes back on. Stand up and sit back down again until your show comes on. Go up and down the stairs. Hold a plank. March in place. The list is endless! If you aren’t feeling particularly creative, you can just type “commercial break workouts” into your search engine and find all kinds of ideas, like the image above which came from this blog. And who knows; you might just inspire someone else to join in with you!
7. Quiet Time
Socializing and celebrating is all well and good, and a very healthy thing to do! But no matter how social a human you are, you still need some YOU time to recharge, recover, and be your best. Whether you choose to rest, pray, meditate, draw, read, paint your toes, go for a hike, or anything else, having some time for you to spend time with just you is a necessary part of maintaining a healthy self-relationship. Check in with yourself, ask how you’re doing. Are your needs being met? Are you happy? What are you thankful for? What are you proud of? Breathe.
8. Once It’s Gone, Don’t Look Back
This one applies to a lot of things in life. Try not to obsess over things you can’t change, like decisions you made previously (why oh why did I get rid of my ugly Christmas sweaters??). Instead, try to learn from them and make the best out of whatever situation you’ve got now.
And while that is a good piece of advice…what I really want to bring up is diet changes. Once you change to a healthier, cleaner eating lifestyle, don’t try to go back to the way you were eating before, even if it is ‘just for the holidays’ or ‘just this once’. No, really. Just don’t do it. You can thank me later.
What are some ways you stay dedicated to a healthier you through the winter months? What have you been successful with in the past? What’s the biggest obstacle you face through the holiday season?
Comments