'Tis the Season:
Staying Healthy During the Holidays
Staying Healthy During the Holidays
During the holidays, we all get caught up in so many other things (shopping, decorating, cooking) that we can forget to take care of ourselves...and begin to feel tired and stressed. Stress not only puts extreme pressure or strain on the mind, but it can also wreak havoc on the body.
So, here are some reminders to stay healthy this joyous season.
Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy
Think Digestion
For some, the best part of the holidays is the holiday food. And though we might worry about adding a few holiday pounds, we also need to remember that over-indulging in food and alcohol can lead to many health issues.
Did you know that the incidence of people visiting the Emergency Room with food stuck in their throats or severe cases of indigestion and heartburn increases two-to three-fold during the holiday season? Preventing such a disaster can be as simple as chewing your food properly, not taking bites too big to swallow, and not overeating. Some other tips:
- Avoid large quantities of potential troublemakers like alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, mint, citrus, tomatoes, onions, black pepper, spicy or fatty foods.
- Avoid eating three hours before bedtime.
- Raise the head of your bed (sleep at an angle)
- Sleep on your left side
- Use a wedge pillow
Drink in Moderation
Have a small drink of alcohol with friends and toast to the holidays or the New Year, but remember that drinking alcohol to excess can cause heart palpitations and light headedness. Frequent over-indulgence of alcohol can lead to permanent heart and liver damage. Enjoy the season and practice the suggestion of moderation. Be willing to make sure alcohol doesn’t interfere with your driving - or that of your dear family and friends; please don't drink and drive.
Link Actions to Good Health
It's our healthy habits that help us most during busy and stressful times like the holidays. Try to maintain those actions that you use all through the year to keep your body healthy.
- Lack of sleep can cause headaches, sluggishness, and crankiness - and being a Scrooge is the last thing you want to be this holiday season. Try getting eight hours each night.
- Continue to exercise - even if your schedule gets interrupted. Find ways to keep exercise a priority and put some other activities off until you’ve finished your exercise rituals.
- Schedule time for rest and relaxation. "Down time" can help reduce stress and increase overall well being.
- Nurture friendly, caring relationships. Loneliness has been shown to have negative effects on the heart.
- Take time to savor activities that make you happy and those that make you laugh. Happiness and laughter have been shown to be some of life's best medicine.
Finally, your positive or negative thoughts can influence your attitude, your health and your enjoyment of the season. Try to stay positive and avoid getting wrapped up in the pressure to get "it all done."
For instance, when you feel yourself getting overtired from shopping or worrying about the cost of a gift...think of it this way: Would you want someone stressed over buying something for you? Of course not. So treat yourself like you would treat your friends and loved ones, and give yourself a break!
Some other gift-giving thoughts for a more relaxed holiday include:
- Set up a budget for your holiday shopping that won't leave you burdened with bills for the rest of the year.
- Homemade gifts are very special and could include special foods you like to make, a set of your favorite recipes, pictures put together in frames or albums…or a coupon for a special activity planned for later in the year.
- Consider buying the same item for many, just in different colors or versions. For example, buy everyone a book, but choose the subject according the each person's personal interest. This may also help you get your shopping done all in one place, or online.
Read past tips for this time of year:
|
