4 Ways to Create Healthy Holidays Full of Love
Photo by Caruba
Brace yourselves, People.
It’s sappy post time.
It’s holiday time.
It’s I’m saying lots of good byes because I’m moving to a new city in mere days time.
As a result, when I plopped down to ponder the concept of ‘healthy holidays’, I thought about more than real food and digestive health.
I focused beyond simple healthy recipes and healthy lifestyle habits.
I completely, wholly and utterly honed in on the love.
I mulled the various ways we can all enjoy happy, healthy holidays by harnessing & surrounding ourselves with L.O.V.E.
(I’d surrender here the yammerings above are all an introduction manufactured to lead you to a healthy holiday acronym, but to know me is to know I love me some acronyms. This post is, indeed, all about the love.)
Leave as much to others as you can. Healthy holidays refer to both the physical and the mental. Delegate. Ask others to lend a hand. Be me and assign people to bring a dish/whatever would help you most when you host a gathering. People love feeling needed and delegating does wonders for lessening stress-levels and improving mental health.
Offer to bring the health if you anticipate it won’t be there otherwise. Offer to make a healthy food option. Suggest to the host you would like to plan a walk/scavenger hunt/active adventure for the group to do after eating. You might be surprised how many appreciate your efforts (food and activity) and are eager to join in your healthy holiday pursuit.
Volunteer. As with letting others lend a hand this approach to health is more mental than physical. Take some time out of your holiday frenzy to focus on others. Sprinkle a few random acts of kindness though out the season. Even the tiniest of acts leave us with a helpers high and an endorphin rush which almost rivals working out. Which brings me to…
E Yep. I’m going to state the obvious one here: exercise. I’m all about squeezing in workouts while we grocery shop and harnessing the power of N.E.A.T., but holiday craziness calls for some prioritizing of you! Start now and mark your workouts on your calendar like any other appointment. If this blocked-off time is challenged perhaps respond with: I’m so sorry. That time doesn’t work for me. It’s my exercise time and I’ve committed to having a healthy holiday this year. Can you suggest a different time we could _____? Practice this phrase ahead of time if you need to- but commit to sticking to it.
I know it can feel overwhelming to focus on staying healthy through the holidays, but the answers really are in the L.O.V.E.
Love yourself enough to put you first.
Love those around you enough to take care of yourself so you live a longer, healthier life.
Love your community and the world beyond you.
What will you do to spread the healthy holiday L.O.V.E this season?
Be well!
Carla
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