'Tis The Season to Stay Healthy & Happy: Kira's Top 5 Tips for the Holidays

Kira Buckley, Contributing Writer

This is a season filled with good cheer; unfortunately, it can also be a time when we experience a greater degree anxiety, putting more stress on our physical and mental health. If you’re not careful, this joyous time of the year can very easily become chaotic and frustrating. Let’s not forget the diet disasters lurking around every corner from Christmas cookies, eggnog, holiday cakes, and appetizers featuring anything and everything wrapped in bacon.

It's important that we learn to pass on many of those extra helpings of temptation and actively control our stress levels. This year, take care of yourself and your family using these tips for staying stress free and healthy during the holidays.

Healthy Holiday Tip#1 Stress shows no mercy, especially during the holidays. So, if you are the person cooking, party planning, tree trimming, carol singing, or has a lot of shopping to do, make a detailed schedule with a list of things needed for each event.

Healthy Holiday Tip#2: Stay calm. When you feel anxiety rising, take a deep breathe and hold it in for a ten count. Slowly release your breath, then take in another deep breath. Repeat this simple exercise three or four times, until you feel calm again. Remind yourself that you are only one person. You can’t do everything all at once or on your own. If you need help, ask for it. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself calm.

Healthy Holiday Tip#3: Stay healthy. Focus on your health during this holiday season and it will probably make a much bigger difference than you could ever imagine. Don’t get so caught up in the festivities that you forget to pay attention to what you eat. Stay away from too much junk food and nibbling throughout the day. It’s hard not to taste-test your dishes, but remember that every bite adds up to pounds and inches, that may not look to joyful in January.

Healthy Holiday Tip#4: Stay fit. Make a special effort to hit the gym as often as possible. The holidays are a stressful time and everyone is rushing around in a flurry of commotion. Stop and make time to stay fit. Even if you can only squeeze in a 30-minute workout twice a week, that’s better than nothing. You can work out a lot of your frustrations in a single 30-minute workout.

Healthy Holiday Tip#5: Stay happy. When you are stressed out, it is impossible to enjoy the spirit of the season. Just like laughter is contagious, so is a sad countenance. . Following the previous tips will keep you energetic and upbeat, but take time to enjoy conversations with friends and family members. Play games or watch your favorite movie. LAUGH, LAUGH, and LAUGH some more. It will certainly lighten your mental load.

Remember what makes this time of year special for you, and celebrate! Make new traditions, new friends, and most of all implement habits that will not only ensure a wonderful holiday season, but will also prepare you for a healthy and happy new year.