Keeping Your Health and Your Sanity Through the Holiday Season

The holidays are a warm, wonderful time of year for you, your family and your friends. It's a time when we all come together and celebrate how lucky we are to have one another. It can also be the most stressful time of the year for many of us. It's very easy for us to become focused on the food, decorations and gifts and lose sight of the most important things in our lives. We need to remember to take care of ourselves first and foremost. If we get ill physically or emotionally, those around us are going to be affected too. The better we feel the better the holidays will be for everyone.

So, how do we keep from becoming a wreck? Here are some helpful hints. First of all, stick to your usual routine as much as possible. Keep up your daily exercise program, healthy eating habits and sleeping patterns. The less you deter from the norm, the better you'll feel. I'm not saying to pass up on those holiday parties and office get togethers. Go ahead and enjoy yourself. Splurge on that decadent dessert and have a couple of drinks. Just don't use that as an excuse to give up your otherwise healthy lifestyle. Make sure after that night out you get back on track as soon as possible.

If you haven't been taking care of yourself, then now is the time to start. Start with simple little things like taking a walk or cutting down on eating out. Try to make a few minutes each day for yourself to relax and unwind. Think of it as a gift to yourself. I often find myself looking up healthier alternatives to heavy holiday foods. I experiment substituting ingredients in my favorite recipes to make them healthier.

Stress can also wreak havoc with your lifes during the holiday season. Try to keep yourself on top of things. Make lists of what has to get done and cross things out as you accomplish them. Make a budget and break it down into categories like: food, drinks, decorations, gifts, etc. and really try to stick to it. The more organized you are the better you'll be able to handle the stress. Try to remember that the holidays aren't about the material stuff. They're about what and who's important in our lives.

If the turkey is dry, the edges of the pie crust is burnt or if you bought the same gift for Grandma as someone else did, it's not the end of the world. We are only human and humans aren't perfect. We burn things, forget things, and make mistakes. Try to smile and laugh at your mistakes and everyone else will too.

Before you lose touch with things, sit down and think about what you want to accomplish this season. Think of someone special you want to make smile. Remember what made you feel good when you were a kid. Focus on one thing at a time. Give yourself a break. You know that you can please everyone, so turn the holidays into a pleasant experience for you. Enjoy the holidays and those around you will too!