5 Tips For Healthy Living During the Holiday Season

Last updated on February 26th, 2023 at 12:26 pm

‘Tis the season for spiked eggnog, potato latkes, Christmas cookies, and boxes of chocolates.

More so than ever, at this time of year, I need to remind myself that healthy living is a good part of what helps me live my dreams and give me the energy I need to finish what I need to do to publish my book this year.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t have spiked eggnog at a Christmas office party today, or that I won’t eat some sugar cookies.

I will, and I’ll enjoy them.

Yet I am ready to start up new routines again soon, and am planning them out as the New Year approaches.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of exciting career opportunities, like the Enlightened Bestsellers Mastermind weekend, and fun playtime, like dancing at the Albany Lindy and Blues Exchange.

I’ve been up late too many nights and had a bit more sugary treats than usual, and definitely indulged in more wine and rum than would be typical for me.

Hot toddies and scotch, Pinot Noir, and spiked eggnog is a lot for a girl who often goes months at a time without drinking any alcohol at all.

Focusing on Healthy Living

Now, I am not silly enough to think that the holiday season is a good time to launch a cleanse, or master a new exercise routine. I mean, it’s possible, and yet is also likely the most challenging time of year to do such a thing.

Instead, I simply want to be mindful of my habits right now, be careful not to overindulge, and make sure I am getting some regular exercise and adequate sleep. There are so many exciting things happening in my life right now, and I know I need to stay in peak health to make sure I am energetic enough to do all I need to do to live my dreams.

Being high energy of course has never been a challenge for me; I am naturally full of energy and generally in buoyant spirits. Yet my energy can flag when I’ve not been to the gym recently enough, or been up dancing all night one too many nights in a row.

Maybe when I was 20 it was possible to pull all-nighters with more frequency, although then again even back then those were challenging for me.

Action Step to Live My Dreams Require Energy

I have so many items to check off my list over these next few weeks, as I set my goals for next year, move forward with revisions to my book, and work on expanding my life coaching business.

The goal is to finally land an agent and book deal next year, and I’m confident that I will. I am also looking to make six figures for the first time with my coaching and public speaking.

It’s going to take a lot of work to get there; luckily it is work that I love that feels like play to me.

Even so, doing all that I need to do will require tremendous focus and energy. I know I can pull it all off, as long as I remember to take good care of myself.

5 Tips for Healthy Living During the Holiday Season

I am going to follow a few guidelines this coming holiday season to stay in a healthy space and full of energy:

1. Drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
‘Tis the season to drink whiskey, at least for me, or to spike my eggnog with some rum, or pour a little Creme de Menthe into my hot chocolate. For someone who is a teetotaler for much of the year, this is unusual. Hydration helps! Drinking lots of water in general is critical to good health, and even more so in a season of cocktails and potential overindulgence. I am focusing on drinking extra water now, up to several gallons a day.

2. Eat lots of greens.
This is of course a basic health and nutrition tip that is relevant all year long. Yet for me, this is especially the case over the holidays, when it is easy sometimes to treat myself to carbs and sweets. As long as I keep eating plenty of salads, broccoli, dark leafy greens, green beans, etc., it seems to balance out some of the other indulgences and keeps my body feeling energized.

3. Set aside some quiet time each day.
This time of year, it can be challenging sometimes to find quiet time and space within the hustle-bustle of the holidays. Yet I find that when I set aside fifteen minutes a day to meditate, it makes all the difference in the world to me. I am more grounded more joyful, and more at peace, and nothing really seems to phase me or to throw me off my center. I am committed to maintaining this practice, even during the busiest, wildest, and most festive days this holiday season.

4. Sleep in once in a while.
For me at least, the holiday season tends to include more parties, late nights, and dancing into the wee hours of the night than at other times of the year. Luckily, since I am spending part of the holiday season on vacation, I will have the opportunity to sleep in sometimes when my body is craving a little extra rest. I fully intend to take advantage of that, and perhaps even indulge in the occasional, delicious nap.

5. Fill the season with extra joy.
Joy gives me energy. Fun fuels me. Time with people I love recharges my batteries! I know that indulging in an extra-big dose of joy and laughter will actually provide me with extra fuel to take the action steps to live my dreams. Also, happy people are generally the most successful people, and I know it’s important for me to focus on growing my own happiness – daily planting those seeds, and choosing joy – which helps me to manifest all of my dreams.

Good luck staying healthy during the partying season! And no worries if you overindulge a little bit; I think we all do during this season…The important thing is to stay healthy enough to be really active in living your dreams. And I am committed to doing that this holiday season, and for the rest of what will hopefully be a long, happy, healthy life.