Getting Ready for the Holidays
Holiday Wellness Tips and Tricks
It’s that time of year again; the leaves are falling, there’s a chill in the air, and there are flannel and pumpkin spice as far as the eye can see. I can’t believe we are starting to make plans for the holidays already. For a lot of us, this means heavy holiday meals, sweets and baked goods, extra stress, illness, and our exercise routine being put on the back burner.
As we approach the holidays, I challenge you to reflect on what your priorities are for your health and well-being and make a plan for what choices you can make to help you stay on track. I find that planning ahead is the best way to be successful.
Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks:
1. Don’t be afraid to meal prep and bring your own food to holiday meals if your family doesn’t hold the same nutritional ideals as you.
If your family does potluck-style meals, bring a dish that is wholesome and could be a complete meal if you know there won’t be other healthy options. I find green salads to be a great option; it’s easy to toss in turkey or eat alongside other sources of protein.
2. Movement… it’s so easy to lay around watching football or curl up on the sofa with a book or Netflix all day when it’s chilly and the weather is crummy. There are many ways to get yourself moving in little spurts at a time that don’t require you to leave the house or even break a sweat. If you are making dinner, you can do air squats while you wait for food to cook. You can do core and stability work as you watch football or Netflix. Pushups during commercial breaks are great! Make it fun and get the whole family involved.
Here are just a few bodyweight movements that you can do just about anywhere:
If you are driving long distances or flying, make sure to get up and moving as much as possible and be aware of your posture. Try not to slouch or lean to one side. I use long drives to focus on posture training because there’s not much else you can do while sitting for hours on end. Glute squeezes are great while driving. (insert logo)
3. Another thing about driving; it is crucial to plan ahead and pack some healthy snacks. There’s nothing worse than being unprepared and then having only gas station snack options. We all know how that turns out! I like to use a small cooler and divide snacks into smaller Ziploc bags so they are easy to share with my family (if you’re into sharing snacks).
4. Take some time for yourself. It’s easy to be consumed by the chaos this time of year. Take some time NOW to schedule activities that recharge you… maybe that’s massage, your favorite hobbies, or coffee with friends. If it goes on the schedule now, it’s a priority instead of an afterthought.
5. All. Of. The. Water. I am amazed at how few people drink water on a daily basis. It is a vital part of survival, health, and well-being. Even just slight dehydration is enough for you to start feeling the effects.
6. Wash your hands! Have you noticed the spike in illness in those few weeks directly after holiday breaks? There’s nothing like getting all those various germs together to exchange and bring home with you! While hand sanitizer helps in a bind, it doesn’t destroy all microorganisms. Soap and friction are crucial in avoiding nasty stomach bugs, for example.
Pay Attention to Signs and Symptoms!
Last but not least, talk to your family about the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer. With such a strong genetic component and quickly increasing rates of younger folks being diagnosed, these are important discussions to have. Be sure to check out the link for more information on signs and symptoms.