The holidays are just around the corner. You can almost smell the spirit of Christmas, and the approaching New Year, floating in the air everywhere you go. In fact, it is so close you could just reach out and touch it.  Celebrations are a feast for the senses – the colours are festive, the songs are lively, upbeat and sentimental all at the same time plus, everyone seems so cheerful it is getting to be contagious.

It is the perfect time to get together with long lost family and friends, and to connect with other people – even with strangers. Needless to say, it is the perfect time to party!

Amidst the beautiful chaos of the celebrations, it is easy to get carried away.  It very easy to forget to slow down; to do things in moderation; and to stay healthy. This should not be synonymous to wild, reckless abandon because, reality check, there is life after the holidays. But I am not going to ask you to just chain yourself to a chair.  The fact is, I am simply going to share some healthy habits we all must incorporate into the holidays.

1) Avoid Overeating

The temptation to overeat during the holidays may just be too hard to resist, especially with the various gastronomical delights that are served on the tables. One’s vow to stick to healthy eating automatically flies out the window, and the tendency to abuse portion size is there.  To avoid doing so, keep a close watch on the amount of food that you are eating. Here are some ways to help you avoid the pitfalls of overeating:

• Do away with large plates.  The bigger your plate is, the more food you put into it. Small plates will allow you to put small portions of each dish.  That way, you get to taste everything without indulging into too much of what is served on the table.
• Pacing is key.  Going to one party after the other means eating time and again. So if you know that you still have two other parties to go to, learn to skip some foods – you do not necessarily have to eat everything.
• Learn to say “No”.  Maybe your mom made that delicious pie especially for you but if you think you’re already too full, just say so.  You do not have to force yourself.  After all, there’s always tomorrow.

2) Avoid the alcohol or limit consumption

Do away with the notion that a successful celebration should always leave you drunk. True, alcohol may be a part of the party, but this is not the end-all and be-all of it. If you need to drink alcohol, it is okay as long as you know your limits. Too much alcohol consumption can lead to nasty hangovers the next day, and while you may feel really good about it during the party, you are most likely to feel worse afterward.

Also, you might want to hold the reins on your drinking, especially if you are going to drive yourself home.  It is never, ever, wise to drive after you have had too much drink.

3) Donate to a charity, if you can.

The holidays are also about giving, and being able to do something for someone who cannot give back is the real essence of it all.  There is something about giving, or sharing, that just makes you feel good.  If you have the means, give. Pick a charity and donate whatever you can.  It does not have to be something grand.  It just has to be something that comes from the heart.

4) Exercise

While the holidays are a time for celebration and laughter, there are some people who shun away from all the parties and the festive mood.  They have their reasons – death of a loved one, being away from their families, or even just the weather makes them feel all gloomy and depressed.  If you are one of those people, this is what you can do: exercise.  Exercising promotes the release of “feel good” hormones known as endorphins which can help improve your mood, excite your senses and uplift your spirits. Be sure to get at least 30-45 minutes of exercise most days of the week.

Also, since you have been, and will be, eating more than the usual, exercise will help you burn off the calories from the food and shed off those unwanted pounds.

5) Practice random acts of kindness to others

You have probably heard about people doing random acts of kindness to random people, even to strangers.  There is no reason why this should only remain as their doing.  Why not make it yours too? The world could be a much better place if we all do something for someone without expecting anything in return. There are just so many things that you can do.  It’s like hitting two birds with one stone: the receiver feels good to know that someone cares, and you’ll feel good about yourself too, knowing that you are capable of such goodness.

Here are some examples which you can simply do. Go spread that love!

• Smile at a stranger.
• Let someone get ahead of you at the grocery’s checkout counter.
• Say “thank you”, and mean it.
• Give your waiter/waitress a huge tip.
• Offer to walk your neighbour’s dog – just because.
• Give a compliment about your salesperson to his/her manager
• Help your neighbour plow through the snow
• Anonymously send someone a gift
• Pay the toll fees of the car after you
• Talk to an old person
• Buy a homeless man a decent meal
• Send someone some flowers
• Buy several copies of an inspirational book and give it to your friends
• Play with a child
• Open the door for someone

6) Get Social

Doing things with people can actually benefit both your physical and mental health.  For example, going out on daily walks with friends makes the activity more enjoyable. Joining a club will help you socialize with people who share the same interest with you.  Doing communal activities helps maintain ideal levels of the hormone serotonin, which elevates mood.  Having group ties can give you a sense of belongingness, and it helps boost self-esteem knowing that they can run to you for help and support.  It feels good to know that you are needed.  Furthermore, there will always be people whom you can turn to when the going gets too tough.

Engaging in social activities help promote the widening of your social circle – and this makes you healthy, both physically and mentally. This is according to the author of Building Better Health: A Handbook of Behavioral Change, C. David Jenkins, PhD.

7) Don't Plan New Year's Resolutions

Contrary to what other people, and tradition, may say, it is best not to plan your New Year’s resolutions. Why? Because most people don’t stick to resolutions anyway.  New Year’s resolutions simply do not work for most people, especially to those who do not have the commitment towards the achievement of their resolutions. It shouldn’t really matter whether you decide to finally lose weight on January or September. As long as you have the will to lose weight, or to live healthily, or to get your child to eat her vegetables, then it will happen.

Here’s the secret: be specific.  Instead of saying, “I will lose weight”, say “I will exercise 45 minutes a day so that I will lose 5 pounds by the end of the January.” Instead of “I will succeed in getting my child to eat her veggies”, say “I will serve carrots every other night for three weeks so that my child will learn to eat and like carrots by the start of February”.

Be specific. Be realistic. And do not wait for the New Year.

Sources
lifehack.org
webmd.com
pattygale.com