Surviving the Demands of the Holidays

For many people the holidays are a cheery and fun time of year; for others it can also be busy, demanding, overwhelming, and stressful. Here are some tips for surviving the demands of the holidays.
1. Make time for your exercise. It is easy to get out of your routine during the festivities of the holidays.  Continuing to make time for exercise reduces stress and burns off the extra calories of holiday treats.
2. Think before you eat. The holidays are stuffed with sweets and rich food, try not to overindulge. Some tips include:
• Don’t starve yourself waiting for the “big meal.” Eat a healthy breakfast and snack on healthy foods during the day.
• Don’t drink extra calories. Limit alcohol and be careful of the calories and sugar in fruit punch, juice, and eggnog.
• Don’t deprive yourself. Completely avoiding the scrumptious dessert can make you more likely to overeat another time.
• Don’t graze multiple times through the hors d’oeuvres. Instead, get a small plate and select your favorites. Eat the healthy choices first such as carrots, celery, and other fresh vegetables.
• Don’t be hard on yourself. A single day of overeating won’t make or break your long term road to maintaining your health. Just return to your usual eating plan the next day and leave your guilt behind.
3. Maintain balance. Stress is often worse when we are out of balance. Out of balance may be from too many commitments, a lack of sleep, financial pressure, worry, recent losses, or isolation. If you are feeling stressed, take 10 minutes to just sit and reflect.
4. Socialize with people you enjoy. Try to connect with at least one upbeat person every day that can help you feel positive and laugh. Laughter is good medicine.
5. Join or participate in something that has meaning for you. Volunteering to help others can give you a purpose and helps you feel good about yourself. It also puts you around new people that can provide you with a new perspective.
Your mental, physical, and social well-being comes before other’s demands for the holidays. Make it a priority to spend time with those people who are enjoyable and naturally encourage you to feel good about yourself.
For more healthy holiday tips, contact Cyntia Drachenberg at Summerhill Villa, Assisted Living and Memory Cate, 661-254-9933 or visit www.mbkseniorliving.com.