Holidays even the most pleasant ones are stressful for many of us. There are a few tips that I usually give my patients before the Holidays.
Healthy eating is especially important.
-Rather than avoiding unhealthy foods entirely, focus on the rule of 80/20. If you had a heavy brunch, eat light dinner or skip it by drinking a lot of not sugary drinks. Consider intermittent fasting ( after discussing with your physician) day prior to the planned dinner or after.
– Eat a nutritious snack before going to holiday events: few nuts, dry fruits to avoid being hungry at the event.
-Be mindful of portion sizes, and drink more water prior to the meal to prevent overeating.
-Don’t forget that alcohol adds more calories than we think.
- Increased stress and poor sleep are the two most common complaints around Holidays.-Take time to recharge: exercise a little more than you usually do: even 10 push-ups before work will make a difference.-Don’t skip the gym classes, add extra ones-Include 4-7-8 breathing exercises before going to sleep. Regular breathing exercises help with stress at any level.
- During the Holidays we frequently forget things, including to refill medications or skip them entirely. Create reminders.
- Most importantly do not forget to be grateful to your loved ones, your colleagues and to yourself.Happy Holidays!
