1. Eat well. It’s common to pack on 5-10 pounds during the
holiday season, but there are ways you can eat both healthy and well! Know
which foods are high in caloric content and low in nutrition. Don’t deprive
yourself of such treats, but indulge in moderation. Eat smaller meals instead
of “saving yourself” for one huge buffet. Opt for healthy options at home, and
when visiting others, bring a healthy dish to share. Be careful of liquid
calories, including alcoholic beverages.
2. Stay active. Exercise is just as important during the
holidays as any other time of the year. You should be active at least four to
five times a week, preferably with some aerobic exercise every day. The weather
may be cold outside, but the winter offers additional fun, too! Ice-skating,
sledding, snow sprints—all of these can be great exercise. Enlist your loved
ones to join you for quality bonding time.
3. Prevent illness and injuries. Colds and the flu are most
prevalent in the winter. Prevent them by washing your hands regularly and
urging others to do the same. Stay warm by dressing in layers. Sprinkle sand on
icy patches. Watch young ones, and assist the elderly, who are at increased
risk of falls and other injuries during this time.
4. Check your heating system. Making sure your heating works
and is safe. Carbon monoxide emergencies can be fatal. Install a carbon
monoxide detector and test it once a month. Keep grills and generators out of
the house, and don’t run your car for long periods of time in the garage. Most
residential fires also occur in the winter; never leave fireplaces, stoves, and
candles unattended.
5. Travel safely. Whether you are going down the block or halfway
across the world, follow extra precautions. Give yourself plenty of time in the
additional holiday traffic. Never drink and drive. Be on the lookout for reports
of extreme weather and heed warnings. If you’re traveling away from home, make
sure to pack and take your medications. Know how to contact your doctor when
you are away and have a medical problem, and where the local ER is.
6. De-stress. Holidays can be a stress time. You may be
working, and feel the stress of managing your work duties along with additional
commitments to your friends and family. You may feel the financial stress of
gifts, and the interpersonal stress of conflicts. Try to anticipate sources of
stress and develop a plan to manage them. This may involve committing to fewer
get-togethers or setting a tighter budget. Don’t feel guilty; you have to take
care of yourself before you can take of others.
7. Help others. Depression and suicidality increase during
the holidays. Watch for signs of depression among your friends and family. Take
an active role to support those in need. Invite those colleagues or friends who
are alone over the holidays to spend them with you. Volunteer and give to those
less fortunate.
8. Treat yourself. The holiday spirit is about helping
others around you, but you also have to make time to take care of yourself. So
treat yourself with something over the holidays. It may be something as simple
as sleep. Sleep in and enjoy a day of rest; you need it. How about reading that
book you’ve been meaning to for a long time, or getting a manicure or massage?
Take the time to do the things that make you happy.
I hope these tips have been helpful! Do you have other tips
to share? I welcome your comments. And happy holidays!
