The arrival of November means that we’re heading into the biggest part of the holiday season here in the United States. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s are right around the corner! With the arrival of these holidays, there can be a tendency to throw up our hands and wait until January 1st to restart our healthy habits.
In my experience, waiting until January 1st to start your health goals leads to the classic yo-yo diet paradigm. And, as you probably know by now, this is not an effective way to keep healthy habits going throughout the year.
As the expression goes, I believe that you can have your cake (literally!) and eat it too. How? Instead of limiting yourself with all-or-nothing thinking, staying focused on the basics is a great way to feel your best and stay healthy through the New Year.
Get the nightly sleep you need
I can’t emphasize the importance of sleep enough! This is especially true during the winter months. Getting the right amount of sleep for you is one of your most effective tools when it comes to staying healthy. (Spoiler alert – it’s definitely more than 4 or 5 hours a night!)
Why is sleep so essential for feeling your absolute best? Study after study shows that people who are properly rested get sick less, have an easier time maintaining a healthy weight, feel less stressed, have better memories, and report being in an overall better mood. These benefits can be yours if you get your nightly sleep. With that, a routine is important – prioritize going to bed at the same time each evening.
Another big tip for sleeping well is to shut off all electronic devices at least one hour before bed. The blue light that is emitted from these devices sends signals to your brain that it is still time to be awake. Instead, ease yourself into bedtime by reading a favorite book, taking a bath, or meditating.
Keep your stress levels low
Reducing your stress levels is another essential way to feel as healthy as possible during the holiday season. Doing so helps you in a number of amazing ways! People who are less stressed have fewer overall physical ailments and mental health issues.
Get a jump start on keeping your stress levels low by finding your favorite stress reduction techniques. Some of my favorites include yoga, guided meditation, deep breathing exercises, and spending time with family and friends.
And the reality is that your holiday season may be so abundant and busy that just hiding in a closet for a few minutes and taking a pause may be all you can do some days. Do it anyway – it will make a difference!
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Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Do you typically reach for soft drinks or coffee throughout the day? Try replacing some of these beverage refills with hydrating water! Grab your favorite cup or water bottle and make it a habit to fill it up throughout the day.
Drinking water on a regular basis is wonderful for your health in so many ways. People who drink water throughout the day enjoy increased energy, a healthy heart, and many more positive physical benefits.
How much water should you drink each day? One rule of thumb you can use is to divide your body weight by three, and drink that number in ounces (e.g. 50 ounces for someone who is 150 pounds). More if you are drinking more alcohol, and more if you are working out more intensely.
Enjoy regular exercise (even if it is less than usual!)
Another great way to keep your body feeling marvelous is to exercise regularly. Even if you can’t fit in your normal workouts because of holiday-related commitments, no worries! Just 30 minutes per day of walking, running, yoga, or a favorite sport is a fantastic goal.
You can also choose fun, seasonal exercises to spice up your routine. Sign up for a turkey trot run/ walk, go ice skating at a local outdoor rink, or try your skills at a sport such as snowboarding or skiing. The more you can enjoy your workouts the better. Some of it can be fun family time, and some can be me-time; whatever suits your needs at the moment!
Be mindful about maintaining a PFC3 lifestyle
Most importantly, be mindful about maintaining a PFC3 lifestyle around fancy holiday dinners. Just because you have more fun foods and beverages in front of you doesn’t mean that you have to give up your plans and eat all of them all the time!
Rather than ditch your healthy lifestyle for the entire season, my number one tip for staying on track is living the PFC3 lifestyle. What is the PFC3 lifestyle? This means that within one hour of waking up, you eat a meal that has a balance of proteins, fats, and carbs. Throughout the day, you should continue to eat PFC meals every three hours (until about an hour before bed).
Why do I recommend a PFC3 lifestyle (all year long, and especially around the holidays)? This way of eating and drinking helps keep your blood sugar stabilized — which means you won’t feel hungry or too full. It also helps reduce unwanted cravings.
Looking for even more ways to stay healthy while enjoying the flavors of the season? Join my virtual cooking/wine pairing social event — Perfect Pairings. Tickets for my December event are now on sale. Also, be sure to follow me on Eventbrite to get notifications of all new and upcoming events.
DAWN MCGEE
Dawn McGee is a certified and licensed Nutrition Evangelist and a long-time foodie, she focuses on both the health and joy of food as fuel for your body. She is a driving force in bringing education on healthy eating to more people through her community, my “Reclaim Your Life, One Bite at a Time” programs, and my book “365 Days of Healthy Living”. Her hope for you is that you live a life you love, without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass
