Very often, during this busy time of year, we end up eating more than we usually do because our schedules are wonky, our routines are shot to sh*t, and we’re not able to do the things we usually do to take care of ourselves.

We can also fall into the familiar holiday rut of doing 3x more than we usually do, sleeping 3x less than we really need, and reaching for quick fixes (hello sugar, chocolate and caffeine!) to help us keep going or calm us down at the end of the day.

This is why, when the New Year arrives, we all feel like we have to get “back on the wellness wagon” – because we’ve fallen into a groove of bad habits that aren’t serving us well. We need help getting out of that groove and into a better one!

If there is one thing I’ve learned in all my years of coaching women around their health, it’s this: It is far easier to be proactive about how we move through the holidays than it is to change habits in the New Year.

 

So, in the spirit of doing just that, here are some of my favorite tips to help you stay vibrant, healthy, and on track with your health – all season long:

• Eat at regular intervals throughout the day. Please don’t skip meals to make room for an evening holiday party or feast. This just encourages your body to go into “starvation mode”, which means your body will want to make up for those calories you skipped. This makes it almost inevitable that you will overeat and overindulge later in the day. Eating at regular intervals will keep your blood sugar from spiking and dropping, which will in turn help you to avoid snacking and indulging in ways that put you on a rollercoaster that depletes your energy, and expands your waistline, fast.
• Listen to your body’s cues. Your body starts to tell you it’s hungry long before your stomach growls. Hunger can show up as brain fog, irritability, and even mood swings. So, when you start to feel a little woozily, check the time. Has it been 3 hours or more since your last meal? It might be time to fuel up again. Listening to your body’s cues also includes paying attention to when your body has had enough to eat. Slow down when you eat and tune into how your body feels as you dine. We can get so caught up in the sensory and emotional experience of eating that we fail recognize when we’re satisfied – which starts to happen before we are “full”.
• Enjoy your food. It’s so important to enjoy foods that are traditions, or the “once a year” specialties that we don’t eat very often. Life is meant to be enjoyed, so guilt, shame and fear don’t belong anywhere near your plate, fork or spoon! That being said, when you are eating those foods, stay present with yourself and your experience of them while you are eating them. When you give your full attention to what you’re eating, you receive the experience more fully – which means you require less of that food to feel content.
• Take care of your body. You know what you need to be doing to care for your body, but here’s a reminder of the things that will have the biggest positive impact: Hydrate. Bring a full water bottle with you wherever you go. Get enough sleep. Enough sleep = enough energy, so you’re less likely to eat those quick pick-me-up foods that aren’t great for you. Move your body in ways that feel good to you. Go for a walk outside, or park farther away from the door if you’re doing holiday shopping at a mall. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you’re traveling, bring snacks with you to avoid the need to grab quick fix foods at the airport or on the road. You’ll save money, and you’ll make better choices. These little things add up to a happier, more resilient and balanced you.

 

What would it feel like to have a plan in hand as you navigate the exhausting (but wonderful) ins and outs of the holidays?

What if you knew well in advance…

• How to handle shopping and gifting
• How to sidestep holiday weight gain (without deprivation!)
• How to navigate sticky family situations with clarity and poise
• How to nourish your body, heart and spirit so you actually enjoy yourself
• How to set and maintain beautiful boundaries when and where they are needed

 

Wouldn’t that make all the difference to your vitality and sanity this holiday season?

 

I have opened up a few spots on my calendar for FREE Self-Honoring Planning Calls – where I will help you manage the unmanageable, and reclaim your peace during these next few weeks of holiday chaos.

Click here and set up a time for us to talk about…

• What has and hasn’t worked well for you in previous holidays
• What you’d like to have happen this year instead
• Your Self-Honoring Plan for this holiday season and beyond

 

History is not destined to repeat itself if you bring more awareness to the present moment, and plan ahead for what you’d like to experience instead.

Schedule your FREE Self-Honoring Plan call here!

 

 

PS: Slots are being snatched up fast, so don’t wait to book your FREE call with me!