Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

Holiday season is officially in full swing! While there is so much excitement that accompanies this time of year, many struggle to maintain their health amidst all the festivities. All the late-night parties, the abundance of food and the cold weather outings tend to leave people feeling a little “bleh” during this time. 

Well, here’s my early present to you: 5 tips to help your health survive the holidays! 

 1.     Stay Hydrated: With all the Christmas themed coffees, eggnog and holiday inspired cocktails, it’s easy for water to be forgotten. Staying well hydrated is fundamental to so many aspects of our well-being, and it’s one of the simplest hacks to staying healthy. Aim to start your day with a large glass, have another cup with each meal, and mix in a water between alcoholic beverages.

 2.     Support your Immune System: Being sick during the holidays is the absolute worst! Many people experience high levels of fatigue and burnout around this time, only weakening the immune system further. Eating a diet rich in colourful fruits & vegetables helps provide a wide range of immune boosting nutrients. Supplementation with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc can also be helpful.

 3.     Prioritize Sleep: With packed weekends full of late-night holiday events, we often feel exhausted come Monday morning. It’s crucial to take advantage of your weeknights off from the festivities and head to bed a little earlier. Though the couch and a Hallmark movie may be calling your name, you’ll be much happier if you choose to get that extra 1.5 hours of sleep instead. 

4.     Ditch the Food Rules: Who doesn’t love a good holiday treat!?! We all deserve to indulge during the festivities, but what we want to avoid is overindulging. The best way to achieve this is by not labeling foods as “good” or “bad”.  Often, we label the cookie as bad, restrict ourselves from eating one and eventually end up caving and eating an entire box, leaving us with a regret and painfully full belly. Instead, consume treats within moderation and alongside a well balance diet. 

5.     Stay Active: The holidays are a tough time to maintain a normal exercise regime and that is totally okay! What isn’t okay is the all or nothing mentality around physical activity. Exercise may not be as consistent over the next few weeks but fitting in shorter periods of movement is better than none at all. Replace a full gym session with a 20-minute yoga flow, a quick at home YouTube workout, or keep it simple and head out for a walk around the block. 

 The holidays are overwhelming enough as it is, so let’s not add on the stress of poor health to it! Book in for an initial naturopathic visit today to learn more about how you can support yourself through this Christmas season!