The holiday season is a time for spending time with family and friends, giving back to others, eating delicious food, and making treasured memories. However, it can also be a time of increased stress and added weight if we’re not careful. Many people simply accept this as a part of the season, but they don’t have to. You can maintain your clean lifestyle even through all the parties, toasts, gift-giving, and merriment.
Here’s how:
1. Be Mindful of Your Mind and Body
With all the hustle and bustle over these next few weeks, try not to lose sight of the
present moment. We tend to spend too much time thinking about the past and worrying
about the future. Instead, focus on staying in the current moment. And as you take
control of your mind, you will also take control of your body. Remember that the
choices you’ve made about what you put into your body all year long are the same
choices you need to make now. While there may be more temptations in the coming
weeks, there are also always healthier alternatives—choose them as much as
possible. And if you do indulge a little this holiday season, don’t be overly concerned or
too hard on yourself. Take smaller portions of those less-than-healthy options, enjoy
them completely, and then get right back to it.
2. Remember Others
It’s no secret we are even busier during the holidays. There never seems to be enough
time to do everything we need to do. But it’s important to take a step back and
remember that the holidays are not happy for everyone. Make a commitment to reach
out to a family member, friend, neighbor, or colleague and ask how they’re doing. You
may also want to consider volunteering to an organization that helps others during this
time. This allows you not only to help those in need, but also provides a sense of
community or social interaction that you may be missing for yourself (and didn’t even
realize).
3. Take Time for Yourself
The holidays can be non-stop—people, parties, houseguests, gifts, eating … the list
goes on. Some thrive in this type of environment, while others feel overwhelmed. In
either case, it’s important to remember to take some time for yourself to recharge. Take
an afternoon walk alone, pamper yourself with a hot, sudsy bath, and ensure you get
the rest you need each night. While it can be tempting to stay awake until all hours to
try to get “caught up” on that never-ending to-do list, it is actually the worst thing you
can do. Sleep helps to regulate your blood sugar, prevent fatigue, strengthen your
immune system, and avoid poor eating habits—all of which we need during the hectic
holidays. You may also want to meditate or maybe even buy yourself a little something
special this year from Nikken’s or Norwex’s Holiday Gift Guides to remember that you
come first … yes, even during the holidays.
One of the most important things to remember this joyous season though is—You. And you can’t do everything. There, it has been said! You cannot possibly take on every chore, attend every event (even though they’re all fun), host parties and out of town guests, shop, bake, and cook everyone’s favorite meals without it taking a toll on your mental and physical well-being. Depleting your mental and physical batteries only leaves you susceptible to more stress, depression, illness, and overeating. That’s not what any of us want this holiday season… and that’s not what clean living is about. Clean living is about putting our health first. And that means putting ourselves first—mentally, emotionally, and physically. The best part is that when we do so, we can enjoy the holidays even more!
