The holiday season is a time for celebration, connection, and indulgence, but it doesn't have to come at the expense of your well-being. With a little intention and planning, you can enjoy all the festive moments while still supporting your health. By incorporating simple, realistic, healthy Christmas tips, you can maintain balance, feel your best, and move through the holidays with more energy and ease.
In this article, we'll explore practical ways to stay on track while still enjoying the season.
Top 10 Tips To Stay Healthy This Christmas
1. Lower Stressors
The first of these tips for staying healthy this Christmas is to keep stress low. Christmas shopping can take a serious toll on the pocketbook! Before your spending gets out of control, sit down and make a budget. And stick to it! Financial stress, like any type of stress, can be directly linked to illness. Research on debt stress, specifically, found it to be related to headaches and migraines, depression, heart attacks, low-back pain, and ulcers or other digestive problems. Just to name a few. Your loved ones want you healthy, much more than they want that expensive gift. Don’t overspend.
2. Get Adequate Sleep
Ahhh, sleep! Rejuvenating, restoring, HEALING… sounds great! So, why aren’t you getting enough? Especially during the holiday season, when we tend to be busier with social events, shopping, and don’t forget the everyday responsibilities of home, work and family… we tend to burn the candle at both ends. And we'll pay for it. Lack of sleep can play a big part in a number of health complaints and conditions, none so obvious (or significant) as FATIGUE! Don’t be tired all holiday season, instead, get to bed. You can have your fun and sleep, too.
3. Alcohol in Moderation
We tend to enjoy a few spirits this time of year, and fair enough, we’ve earned a glass of wine! But in order to follow these healthy Christmas tips, be sure to limit yourself. Excess alcohol can increase your risk of liver disease, high blood pressure, high blood fats, heart failure, stroke, and certain cancers. It also impacts sleep, mood, and hormone balance. Men, on average, should have no more than 2 drinks daily, or more than four drinks at one time. For women, 1 drink per day on average, or no more than 3 drinks at one time, is best. For optimal health, less is truly more.
4. Increase Mood Boosting Activities
Did you know that the process of making art - whether it is writing, painting, singing, dancing, or anything in between – is good for us? Creativity has been shown to improve well-being by decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive ones. It can also lead to improved medical outcomes, as well as a depression, as it allows for the expression of grief. Creating art reduces stress and anxiety, improves positive identity, and in group or class settings, can even improve social networks. There is also research to support that the act of writing, specifically, can actually improve SD4+ lymphocyte counts. This means that it impacts the body at a cellular level – improving immune function. Take-home message: Get Creative! Homemade gifts are even more appreciated – how does that saying go, 'It's the thought that counts?
5. Stay Warm
If you're running off to the store to grab those last-minute stocking stuffers, don’t forget to bundle up. Did you know that blood pressure could increase temporarily when exposed to cold temperatures? Many arthritis sufferers also find that symptoms are exacerbated in the cold, making joints feel stiffer, resulting with less mobility. Asthma and other pulmonary disorders can also be heightened in cold temperatures. Throw on your scarf, hat and mitts – it's not just Jack Frost nipping at your nose you have to worry about anymore.
6. Relax
Christmas is the season of giving, but did you think to put yourself on the list of recipients? The truth is, there is absolutely nothing selfish about spoiling yourself a little. An important tip to stay healthy this Christmas is to take some time to relax and destress. You deserve it, and your friends and family deserve time with a happy, healthy and relaxed version of you. Take a bath, go for a quiet stroll to see the Christmas lights, read a book, or meditate… do whatever you find helps you to decrease stress and reset!
7. Indulge in Moderation
Everything in moderation! The holidays aren't exactly known as the best time to 'diet'. Instead of setting yourself up for disappointment, you're better off enjoying a treat or two – everything in moderation. It’s all about small portions and eating smaller meals more often. Heading out to a holiday party? Have a small dinner first, a light salad with protein (chicken, fish or beans/lentils). That way, you won’t be as likely to go overboard on cheesy appetizers or rich desserts. Remember to drink lots of water, so you don’t confuse hunger with thirst. Enjoy Aunt Marg’s Christmas cake, just savour a SMALL piece (and take the word 'second-serving' out of your vocabulary)
8. Get Outside
Another one of these tips that's important for staying healthy during Christmas is to get some fresh air and exercise. Who says you can’t do any outdoor exercise in the winter? Dress warm and keep dry, and there will be many ways to stay active and get some fresh air. Staying active in the winter can help you keep the Christmas weight off, keep your skin looking fresh, improve your mood and seasonal depression and just generally improve your overall health and wellness. Some activities include tobogganing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, skating, and even simply building a snowman. The winter can be long and unrelenting, but if you protest against the cold, it's better to just make the most of it – you never know, it could turn out to be your favourite season.
9. Stay In During Storms
If the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is so delightful,... It's best just to stay inside! Winter driving can be dangerous and stressful. For anxious drivers, it can be almost debilitating. Don’t stress yourself out. If driving conditions are less than optimal, plan your running around for another day, or carpool with a friend who feels more comfortable behind the wheel. Instead, have neighbourhood friends over who can walk instead of driving. Enjoy the snow from the window, and remember that it's better to avoid this small task that can come with high repercussions to your health.
10. Cold and Flu Prevention
No one wants to be sick for the holidays, but sometimes we can't help it. We run on adrenaline for so long, and once finally relaxed, POW, we have a cold! Most of the suggestions listed here are meant to make the holidays a little less stressful, which, in and of itself, will mean a stronger immune system. Vitamins D and C will also go a long way in preventing and minimizing symptoms of cold and flu. Oregano oil, probiotics, and elderberry can do wonders, too.
