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Create a Plan
The holiday season is upon us. It’s the time of the year to enjoy celebrating and spending time with family and friends. This year, be proactive, identify challenges in advance, and create a plan, write it down and share it with your family to ensure success.
Challenge Yourself
During this busy, sometimes stressful time, the temptation of an “after the holidays” mindset regarding health goals is easy to fall into. A simple strategy to stay on track throughout the season is to set a specific goal. Perhaps challenge yourself to participate in a charity walk or run. Invite your friends or family to join you. Or, set a goal to eat more fruit and vegetables each day to help ensure healthier food choices throughout the season.
Eat Better, Not More
The holiday season seems to provide a hall pass for overeating, which causes weight gain.
To avoid this, eat only when physically hungry and choose smaller portions of your special holiday favorites.The goal is to stop at satisfied, not stuffed.
Something New
It’s okay to be the leader when it comes to making one small change this year. All traditions were new at one time. Update one tradition to make the holiday less stressful, more nutritious, or more physically active this year. It’s an excellent opportunity to lead by example.
First Things First
Most importantly, keep first things first. One of the biggest disruptions to health goals during the holiday season is stress. Once your plan is in place, focus on the celebration with family and friends. That’s what is truly important. And, always remember the goal is to be better, not perfect.
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