Have a Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving break is often four days long. Most people stress out for Thanksgiving dinner, then stress out over Christmas shopping the next day, and then spend the weekend comatose, just trying to get ready for Monday. This year try some different activities to promote a healthy life. Ease up on the Thanksgiving dinner and shopping and consider activities that will help with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

1. Hiking: (Physical and Spiritual Health)

Hiking is a great opportunity for the family to go out together but also have time individually. When you are hiking, you are exerting enough effort while walking that it is difficult to talk. You spend more time in your own head, thinking, reflecting, and appreciating the world around you. Physically, hiking is a very healthy activity provided you are in good enough condition. Spiritually, hiking is a healthy activity that will help you reconnect to your natural roots. Every time I go hiking, I feel closer to the people I am hiking with while also feeling more connected to myself, nature and my Creator.

Be sure to take safety precautions when hiking, especially when hiking in the cold.

2. Thankfulness Walk: (Physical, Spiritual and Emotional Health)

If hiking seems a bit out of your league, going for a walk may be a better choice this Thanksgiving. Walking accommodates family members with limited mobility better than a hike while still promoting physical health. It can also be done at a pace that encourages talking.

Every thanksgiving my family goes for a walk and we take turns saying what we are thankful for. We each take a turn and then start over again. Each person must pick something new, though you can take time to agree with other things that have been previously mentioned. One year in my family it turned into a memory game where everyone said all the previous thanksgivings mentioned and then added their own. It was a lot of fun. By taking some extra time to slow down for a walk and talk about thankfulness this Thanksgiving, you cultivate a spiritual attitude of thankfulness which can help when you go back to the grind of work. A Thanksgiving walk also gives you the opportunity to talk with the whole family about what they are thankful for. Everyone gets his or her turn and everyone's statements are listened to, this promotes emotional health.

3. Tell Stories: (Mental and Emotional Health)

Storytelling has been largely lost in a culture that relies on technology to do the storytelling for them. Every family member has stories but especially the older generation have very valuable lessons to convey through their stories. Telling a story involves remembering the story and then trying to express it in a way that is entertaining and meaningful. This is a mental skill that has largely atrophied but can be revived for mental health. Storytelling is also good for emotional health. When we tell stories and listen to stories we trust and are trusted. We build those relationships with the people around us. Emotionally we get the opportunity to express our experiences in a meaningful way.

The best places to tell stories are in a cozy environment where everyone can see each other. If you have a fireplace or a space heater these are good options. Thanksgiving dinner, dessert or after dinner lounging at the table may also be good times and places.

4. Make Appreciation Cards: (Spiritual and Emotional Health)

Cultivating thankfulness does wonders for one's spiritual health. What better way to explore your thankfulness than to thank someone personally. This strengthens the emotional bond between the two of you. It is good for your emotional health and it is a gift of emotional health to the person you are thanking. One way you can thank someone this Thanksgiving is to make cards. There is no right way to make appreciation cards so your creativity is the limit. Make it a family event with lots of paper, scissors, glue, envelopes, and random craft supplies.

5. Puzzles: (Mental Health)

Making puzzles is good for your brain. Puzzles, crosswords, and other fun mental activities have been know to decrease the chance of Alzheimer's. So encourage the mental health of the entire family. Pull out the card table, get a couple of puzzles and have family members work on puzzles when there is a lull in their Thanksgiving weekend. See how many puzzles the family can complete over the weekend.

I once went to a family camp for Thanksgiving and they always had puzzles going in the lodge. It was a great way to meet new people and work toward a common goal. It was relaxing and helped the world's pace to slow a bit. Puzzle-making is a skill that has been neglected over the years. Try it out this Thanksgiving!

6. Board Games: (Mental and Emotional Health)

Board games, especially strategy board games, are good for engaging your brain while having fun this Thanksgiving break. Most families have several hidden in a cupboard or closet somewhere. It is time to pull it out and dust it off. To keep your mental health going it is important to do activities that you don't normally use your brain for from time to time. Holidays are a great time to do it. Double bonus by having fun while becoming mentally sharper.

Emotionally, it is good for us to have times when we win and times when we lose. We are healthier when we get the opportunity to seek short term goals and deal with the success or disappointment. This Thanksgiving, engage your brain and play some games with your family members. The kids will enjoy the attention and the adults really should reconnect with their youth from time to time to remain healthy.

7. Sleep in (Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional Health)

If possible this Thanksgiving, sleep in. The culture tells you that you need to have the perfect dinner on Thursday and grab the best sales on Friday. If you personally believe this then go for it, but if not take a moment to reconsider. Would the world or family fall apart if you put less effort into the dinner? Do you really need to buy gifts for everyone while fighting with the rest of the world for sales? I believe the answer to both of these questions is no. If you chose to sleep in on Thursday or Friday, the world would not fall apart and you would be more rejuvenated over the Thanksgiving break. In case you were wondering, that is what holidays are for. Physical, spiritual and emotional renewal are essential to good health.

Most adults are somewhat sleep deprived. Take this holiday to physically catch up a bit. Slow the pace down. Take time to dream. Dreams are important for your subconscious to process the events of your life. Give it the time and space to do so. You will be emotionally and spiritually healthier for it.

8. Private Time (Spiritual and Emotional Health)

You also need to take some time just for you. This can take a wide variety of forms. Do you have a hobby that you haven't had time for? Do you have a book you've been meaning to read? Do you find taking a long luxurious bath relaxing and rejuvenating? Take some time this Thanksgiving break to discover what you need to do with some alone time. Then once you have figured out what that is for you, take some time to do it. Warn the family that you are taking an hour or two to yourself. Arrange someone to take care of any children running amok. Seclude yourself from everyone as best you can and do it. The spiritual and emotional effects will be significant when they hit, though you may not see the benefits right away. Try to continue this as a habit, taking some time every week or two for yourself. By New Year's, you will notice a difference.