5 Ways to Stay Healthy and Organized this Holiday Season

You've heard it: Christmas carols.  The holiday season insanity is here.  Christmas parties, school concerts, holiday baking, Christmas gifts and cards, dinners out, open houses, family gatherings, and more!  It is less than one month until Christmas. 

How to survive this time of the year.

1) Schedule in time to take care of yourself. 

There is so much going on.  When we are stressed, our eating habits may change.  Put purposeful wellness activities into your calendar.  Take a yoga class. Another great option is home workout DVDs.  These allow you to fit in your workout at whatever time best suites you. Make time to grocery shop once a week.  Carry a water bottle with you to stay hydrated. Make time to maintain meaningful connections in your life.  

2) Identify your "dinner deck" and make that.

Supper hour comes each day.  No one needs the extra pressure of answering that question - what should I cook for dinner.  Keep things super-simple. Identify 5 simple meals that you can make with your eyes closed - your "dinner deck". Try whole-grain spaghetti and meatballs, chicken thighs coated in panko and serve with a plum sauce, a simple minestrone soup, a lentil soup, a DIY Pizza, stir fry and frittata

3) Build in exercise to your festivities.

Time is such a precious resource and it becomes very stretched at this time of the year. When this happens, we tend to cut out what we deem as non-essential.  

Purposeful exercise helps to manage stress, manage weight, helps our immune system work well and helps keep you mentally healthy.  Make your social time active.  Go skating, play hockey, go swimming, go to a gym and play racquet sports.  Combining active time with social time helps everyone feel good on so many levels.  

4)  Involve your kids and solicit help.

Holiday activities like baking and wrapping gifts can be fun if you have help.  Involve your kids where possible. Give them specific jobs and tasks.  Need some kid-free time?  Propose a babysitting swap with your friend - you each get some time to do the things you need to do while each taking a turn being with the kids.

5) Give yourself permission to outsource where possible.

Where do you need the extra help?  Take advantage of the many ways you can outsource.  For example, with meals and food, consider the following suppertime helpers: shop bought roasted chickens, frozen lasagne + side salad, deli style soups with whole meal rolls. There are many options. Still encourage balanced meals, rather than just having pizza for dinner, have fewer pieces and balance out with a salad or veggie sticks.  Shifting away from all-or-nothing thinking helps to keep things balanced and healthy.