Maintaining Your Health Through the Holidays

The holidays can take a toll on both your physical and mental health. Incorporating small things into your daily life can help you stay healthy and be able to enjoy the holidays.

Exercise

Exercise goes a long way to maintaining your physical and mental health, but fitting into an already packed schedule can feel daunting. Adding an extra few minutes to everyday tasks adds up, keeping you healthy and possibly even fighting off those extra few pounds that can creep up during the holidays.

• Park as far away from the door as you can. Every extra step you take is a step toward your health.

• Walk laps around the mall or store. Do three or four laps before you start your shopping.

• Fit in a mini workout at or during work. Use part of your lunch hour to take a short walk or keep a set of resistance bands and your desk and spend five or ten minutes doing resistance training.

Quiet Time or Meditation

During the holidays we are inundated with sights, sounds, smells and tastes. It seems we can't go anywhere without someone assaulting our senses.

• When you're commuting to or from work, turn the radio off. Ride in silence and allow yourself to spend time in silence.

• If silence is hard for you, listen to a meditation CD, calming classical music or even nature sounds.

• Try to carve out a few minutes each day where you can sit and relax. If you have a hobby that is comforting and calming to you, make an appointment with yourself to spend time each day doing this.

Practice Saying No

The party invitations and commitments are piling up and you don't know how you're going to have enough time to do everything. Tell yourself that it's OK to say no.

• Attend only the functions you really want to attend.

• If you feel that you cannot say no, set a time limit that you will be at the function. After the set time, excuse yourself. Simply saying that you have someplace else to be is expected at this busy time of year. You do have someplace else to be; home.

• Say "No, but.." When turning down an invitation try schedule time with your host or hostess after the holidays. "I can't make it to your party, but let's set a date in January when we can have lunch together." It eases the burden on you and gives you time with a friend when you can truly enjoy each other's company.

Sleep

Everyone has heard that you should get eight hours of sleep each night, but how do you do this when your schedule is already packed?

• If you have children and they nap, take a nap with them. The extra time sleeping will rejuvenate your body as well as giving your children the time and attention that they want from you.

• Avoid alcohol, or limit it close to bedtime. It will not only help you sleep better, but is just better for your body overall.

• Try to keep to your normal sleeping and waking schedule as much as possible.

Most importantly, listen your body. It will let you know when you are taking on too much, sleeping too little or need to take some time for yourself. You want to be able to enjoy the holidays, not spend them sick in bed or exhausted from too much pressure.