Top 10 Tricks for a Healthy Holiday. Happy Open Eating!

I just moved to the Rocky Mountains... from Phoenix Arizona. I've been in Arizona now for over 10 years, and I'm bracing myself for a REAL winter. Not my first real winter... I've lived in snowy places before, but I really just don't do great in the cold. So I'm gearing up. I have 4 kids, and even though I got a few deep breaths in when ALL of them went to school, those deep breaths didn't stick around long. Life is already busy... and adding the holidays to it can get really messy really fast.

Time to get warm clothes out, manage homework schedules, figure out holiday letters and Christmas cards, and somehow shop and decorate for at least THREE major holidays within 12 weeks. Are we insane? Yes... a little bit.

You all probably can relate- I know I'm not the first busy mom to wonder if I'll survive or if it's worth it. But I know it is... the memories we create this year set us up for the rest of our lives, just like last year and the year before. We survive and we laugh at the crazy that went on- and our kids cherish those times, just like I do when I reflect back on my mom.

And to you dads out there... you 100% get it too. I know it and respect you for it!

It's easy during this time to just put ourselves off ourselves... to ensure we care for everyone else. If everyone else is happy and having the best holiday, we're happy too, right?

But that takes its toll on our minds, our bodies, and our relationships. I know that when I take a step back and reflect on how I am when I put my health off... I am not giving my family my best me. I get tired and cranky. Or I can't think straight, or I simply add enough stress to the mix trying to make it perfect, that the joy is lost. 

If I'm honest with myself, taking a little me time makes me more pleasant to be around and allows me to enjoy the holidays, and my family to enjoy them more:)

Here are the top 5 tips for having a healthy holiday:

1. Get great sleep- Don't stay up late with crazy prep. Keep decorations and meals simple and spend time with family. Allow yourself to stop working on everything at a reasonable time, and spend the evening winding down with them. Read a story and drink some hot tea. This allows your body to reduce its cortisol (stress hormone) levels and actually put your body into recovery mode. When your stress levels are up, your body doesn't digest those nutrients properly, which can contribute to weight gain. High stress can also cause inflammation, contributing to weight gain and other health problems. When you sleep your body releases the nutrients from the day and targets them for healing and recovery. Take the time to let your body settle down, communicate the amount of rest it needs, and grant it that gift. It will pay you back tenfold.

2. Keep it simple- Allow your holidays to be simple. Remember the happiest stories revolve around a simple miracle that occurs during these special times. The more grandiose you make it, the more stressful it becomes, and the less time you have to listen to the messages your body is sending you about many things... nutrition, movement, rest, love, and the simple blessings and miracles these are in your life.

3. Take time to move- I don't just mean chasing around with kids, errands, and holiday gift drop-offs. Let your body express itself, even celebrate in a REAL way. Get out and walk... dance... try a jump rope for the first time in how long? Get on the floor with the kids and crawl around. You'll get up... even if it's a bit hard. Your body needs movement to detox. It's how we release toxins and electrical charges that build up in our bodies. It's how we fumble around and laugh, and detox our minds. It's how we connect. It's what gets our heart rate and excitement up and helps to rebalance our hormones. Cherish this body and celebrate what it brings to your life!

4. Give your body the fuel it needs- as you prepare meals, try to find the best ways to serve up a colorful variety of whole fruits, whole vegetables, and whole grains. Your body needs the nutrients and phytochemicals of every one of those colors to balance its systems and support your health. You'll notice that your mind is clearer and you have more energy. You'll notice a balanced and even happy mood. The cooking is simpler with whole foods, allowing you to connect with family and friends while it is brought together in meals you know will bless your life.

5. Accept help as a miracle, not a failure of not being able to do it all I struggle with this one most, but it truly is the most valuable. I trick myself into attaching my worth or my success of the holiday to how much I can do to show others a good time. I've lost myself in that trap many times... but what I've learned is that doing holiday prep WITH those I love most creates the most laughs, the most memories, and the most gratitude because we sacrifice together, we slow down because we get more done together, and we connect in a healthy way that just doesn't happen in a "do it all myself" mindset.

This holiday season, take the time to connect with those you love. And if they're not near- give yourself a chance to find that person by meeting and serving someone new. There is no shortage of opportunities to simply do good this holiday season and give yourself (and others) the gift of real health. 

What tips have you learned to foster a healthy holiday season?