There’s lots to love about the holiday season: Family, friends, good food and great memories. But among the shopping sprees and ho-ho-hos, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, let healthy habits slide—and even get sick if we’re not careful.
This year, we’re helping keep you happy and healthy with 10 tips for a healthier holiday season.
1. Stay Hydrated
It’s important to stay hydrated even during the cooler months of winter. Proper hydration can help us sleep better, fight infections and improve our mood. Always have your bottle on hand, and be sure to sip often when holiday shopping and party prepping.
2. Make Time for Movement
Between all the holiday festivities, your regular routine may fall by the wayside. But instead of beating yourself up for missing a workout, try incorporating healthy activities into your day instead, like walking during your lunch break, stretching before bed or taking a trip to the park with the kids if the weather is nice.
3. Support Your Immune System
Since it’s not only the holiday season, but flu season too, your immune system may be working overtime to keep you healthy this time of year. Give it some added support with an immune booster supplement, like our Sicilian Blood Orange On-the-Go Sticks—perfect for on the go.
4. Stress Less
Stress: The true grinch of the holiday season. Between family, finances and a finite number of hours in the day, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed. And stress can take a toll on your immune system, making you more susceptible to seasonal illnesses. Beat the grinch with plenty of sleep, some mindful breathing exercises—or any of your tried-and-true methods for stress management.
5. Don’t Sugarcoat It
Now for the elephant in the room: The holiday season can be absolutely dripping with sugar-coated confections. While delicious, too much of it can derail one of the important factors to staying healthy during the holidays—a healthy diet. You don’t need to forego all treats this time of year, but by limiting indulgences to special days, you make room for better balanced eating in your day-to-day. Our best tips: Practice portion control, eat mindfully and don’t forget to eat your veggies!
6. Wash Your Hands Often
Especially if your holiday season has you out and about more often than usual, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and often to help prevent illness and the spread of germs.
7. Make Healthier Traditions
Focus gatherings around family and fun, rather than food. Go for a walk together after Thanksgiving dinner, plan an annual Black Friday hike, organize a backyard football game or gather the crew for a group bike ride.
8. Step Up Your Self Care
While an hour-long massage or day at the spa may not be in the cards this holiday season, you can work small-but-meaningful moments of bliss into your day to help manage the stress of the holidays. Having a coffee date with your bestie, taking a hot bath with your favorite essential oils or doing 10 minutes of yoga poses before bed can dial down your stress level and help you feel more rejuvenated.
9. Do the “D”
Vitamin D, that is! Since winter is known for having shorter, colder days, we’re less likely to get the vitamin D our bodies need this time of year. One of the best ways to get vitamin D is by incorporating foods like tuna, salmon, yogurt and milk into your meal plan.
10. Don’t Forget to Enjoy It
With all of the hustle and bustle around you, don’t forget to take time to be in the moment. Trust that these tips will help you feel your best and allow you to focus on the most wonderful part of the holidays—relaxing and enjoying the festivities with your family and friends.
