Ways to Stay Healthy this Festive Season
A common thing I get asked is how to stay healthy over the festive season with all of the social events and functions that come with it. To help you get through this festive season as your happiest and healthiest self, I've put together a list of tips that can support you.
Ways to stay healthy during the festive season:
Utilise the 80/20 rule.
Take a healthy dish along.
Eat the sweets after your main meal.
Stay hydrated.
Move your body in some way, every day.
Practice setting boundaries.
Prioritise nervous system regulation.
Don't skip out on sleep.
Spend time in nature.
Keep reading for more information about each...
While many people treat December as a 'write off', it's actually setting the foundation for 2024. There is no magic 'reset' button that happens on January 1st, where all of a sudden we can change our behaviours and start doing all the things we say we want to do. Habits require repetition and consistency, so what we do in December impacts our new year.
Let's dive into each of the tips that can help you stay healthy at this time of year:
Utilise the 80/20 rule: I'm always talking about 'eating real food, majority of the time'. You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to restrict yourself and you certainly don't have to miss out on things that you enjoy. Focus on eating real food 80% of the time and take away the guilt when enjoying the not so real foods the other 20% of the time (if that's what you choose).
Take a healthy dish along: It can be hard to make healthy choices if there aren't the best options available, so the easiest way to fix this is to take a nutritious and delicious dish along to social events. You can also chat to family/friends about your dietary preferences so that they can accomodate.
Eat the sweets after your main meal: You don't have to miss out on sweets if you want them, but the timing makes a huge difference. The best way to support your blood sugar levels is to eat the sweets after your main meal - make sure the main meal has lots of quality protein and healthy fats for even better results.
Stay hydrated: Don't forget to drink your water! Regardless of what else you choose to drink, staying hydrated is an easy win and an essential part of staying healthy (all year round) and throughout the festive season.
Move your body in some way, every day: Yes this time of year can get busy, but it's really important to keep up your movement practices. (And no, it's not to 'burn off the extra calories' so please ignore anyone that tells you otherwise). Ways I love to do this include organising walking catch ups with friends or encouraging the family to go to a park and kick a soccer ball around.
Practice setting boundaries: Whether it's boundaries around how you choose to spend your time and which commitments to go along to, or boundaries around what you choose to consume, this time of year may require you to practice your boundary setting. Remember that 'no' is a complete sentence and you never have to justify yourself.
Prioritise nervous system regulation: Whether it's the busy-ness of this time of year or family drama that causes additional stress, it's SO important to prioritise nervous system regulation. (When we're stressed it's impossible to be our healthiest because so many systems and functions are unable to work at their optimal). Take deep breaths, journal, meditate, do breathwork, take a bath, or do any of the things that you enjoy and help you relax.
Don't skip out on sleep: Sleep is so a non-negotiable for optimal health and is so beneficial for our nervous system (see above). Keep aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night, or if you get to bed late one night try for an earlier night to catch up on sleep debt the next day.
Spend time in nature: Nature is so healing and can do wonders for our nervous system. If you're in Australia like me, it's also summer which is a great time to get outside for vitamin D and fresh air. Spend some time barefoot on the grass to help you ground and get all of the healing benefits of mother earth.
The festive season can come with lots of triggers and emotion, which can lead to an increase of emotional eating and other distraction strategies. The first step is to be kind to yourself, practice compassion and remember this is just a way you're subconsciously trying to protect yourself. The next step is to deal with the emotions (you've got to feel it to heal it) and get to the root cause of why these triggers are there. I can help with any and all of this, so please feel free to reach out if you'd like some support.
Also a friendly reminder that health is a lifestyle and there is no bandwagon to 'fall off', keep making healthy choices when and where you can, and don't let yourself feel guilty if it doesn't go to plan.
About
With over 5 years of experience in the nutrition and natural health industry, I’ve seen time and time again that health doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. It’s all about coming back to the basics, focusing on eating real foods, building healthy habits and getting our mindset right.
