KEY TAKEAWAY: The holiday season brings with it myriad opportunities to indulge, which may mean experiencing some inner, physical, or financial drag when the festivities are over. So, this season, create memories instead of regret by employing some of these tips to help you feel as good coming away from the holidays as you did going in. Scroll down to the TAKE ACTION section for this week’s actionable steps.

As we transition from Thanksgiving and gear up for another round of holiday celebrations, there’s so much to look forward to—festive decorations, quality time with family and friends, holiday indulgences, and giving to the people and causes we care about. However, it can also be a bit overwhelming when we consider the demands on our time, energy, and finances.

With that in mind, I want to share a few tips that may help you enjoy everything the season has to offer, while taking care of your body, mind, and finances. These strategies can help you stay balanced and ensure you come out of the holidays feeling as good (or better) than you did going in.

1. Set Your Intention

Before the holiday rush begins, take a moment to reflect on what you want out of this season. Is it connection, relaxation, or joy with family? Setting intentions can help you stay grounded amidst the hustle, ensuring that you enjoy what matters most without losing sight of your well-being.

Action Tip: Take a few minutes to write down your holiday intentions and keep them visible to remind yourself of what you most want out of this holiday season.

2. Eat Mindfully

The holidays often bring an abundance of delicious food, and it’s easy to overindulge, which can mean feeling bogged down with too much food and regrets. To avoid this, try out some of these mindful eating strategies.

Action Tip: Maximize your enjoyment of your festive food experience guilt-free by employing mindful eating strategies to savor what you eat while avoiding the “I’m so stuffed I feel sick” hangover:

• Don’t approach your meal starving. Hunger is the best seasoning, but if you are too hungry, you’ll be more likely to ravish instead of savor your eating experience, which tends to lead to overeating.
• Try to maintain a somewhat regular eating schedule. When you eat, opt for protein and fiber-rich foods that will help keep your blood sugar steady.
• Practice portion control. Serve yourself a reasonable portion to start. Remember: You can always go back for seconds, so start with less (to experience more in terms of good feelings later). Before you take a second serving, ask yourself, “Why?” Are you truly hungry or just maintaining the momentum? Hunger is the best seasoning but remember that the more we eat and fill up, the less good food tastes (and feels).
• Pace yourself. Eat slowly. Take sips of water between bites. Take a bathroom break halfway through your meal (sometimes standing up and taking a pause can help us check in with how full we’re getting).

3. Stay on Schedule

Between holiday gatherings and cozy nights in, the holidays can disrupt your routine. But by maintaining a consistent sleep and exercise schedule, you can keep your energy levels high and mood lifted. And remember: This isn’t about perfection—just doing your best to stay on track with what keeps you feeling your best.

Action Tip: Prioritize 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Maintain your regular exercise schedule (and if you don’t have one, try committing to getting at least 15-20 minutes of movement each day; a walk after eating can also help regulate your blood sugar).

4. Budget Your Time & Money

While it’s easy to get swept up in the frenzy of gift-giving and event planning and attending, it’s important to set boundaries to avoid burnout. This includes both your time and finances. Overcommitting, whether it’s spending too much money or overloading your calendar, can lead to stress.

Action Tip: To avoid overdoing it, establish some guidelines:

• Set a realistic holiday budget before you start shopping. Use cash or a dedicated credit card with a preset limit and track your holiday spending as you go to help you stay on track. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself if it truly adds to your quality of life (or may, in the end, add more stress).
• Prepare financially for the post-holiday timeframe, for example, by setting aside money in advance for January expenses.
• If you’re doing gift exchanges, set a spending cap with loved ones, establish gift buddies, or choose to focus on crafting a fun or otherwise meaningful experience (e.g., back rub, picnic in the living room in front of the fireplace, playing a game, having a karaoke contest, watching old family videos) instead of giving material gifts.
• Schedule “me” time for yourself every day (as fits you best) to help your battery stay charged.
• Prioritize your time, saying “no” to events that drain your energy or are lower in your “want to do” priority list. 
• Maintain (or establish) regular morning and evening rituals that ground you, whether it’s journaling, deep breathing, prayer, exercise, and/or meditation.

5. Practice Gratitude

Just as this can enrich our lives during any season, the holidays offer another wonderful opportunity to practice gratitude. Gratitude can help to shape the lens through which we view life, life situations, ourselves and others and create greater abundance in them. So, reflect on what you’re grateful for.

Action Tip: Practice gratitude daily. Start the day by listing three (or as many as you like) things you are grateful for, or start a gratitude journal and write the three (or more) things you’re thankful for there.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season is a magical time, and we can add to that by ensuring we do what helps add – not subtract – from how we feel as we move through it. So, challenge yourself. Commit to coming out of the holiday season feeling as good (or better) than you did – in your inner self, body, and finances – going into it.

TAKE ACTION:

1. Set Your Intention: Write down your holiday intentions and keep them visible to stay focused on what matters to you most.
2. Eat Mindfully: Maintain your eating schedule and practice mindful eating. Savor your food slowly, drink water between bites, and listen to your body’s cues.
3. Stay on Schedule: Maintain your regular sleep and activity schedule as much as possible to keep you energized and feeling good.
4. Budget Your Time and Money: Establish a holiday spending plan, use cash or a credit card with a preset limit, and track your expenses as you go. Set aside money for January to avoid post-holiday financial stress. Carve out “me” time each day to recharge. Manage your time (and energy) by saying “no” to things that drain your energy or are lower on your “want to do” list.
5. Practice Gratitude: Practice gratitude every day. Journal or mentally list three things (or more) that you are grateful for as you begin each day.

IMPORTANT: The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have regarding the topics discussed here as the topics discussed are based on general principles and may not be applicable to every individual. 

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