The holidays tend to be a tricky time to strike and maintain life balance. There is usually so much happening on a daily basis, above and beyond regular life - festive gatherings, cooking, decorating, shopping, gifting, creating, school and work events, family gatherings, etc. - you get the point!
Every year I set an intention at the beginning of the holiday season to keep 5 key things in mind. I'm not saying that I'm always successful, however I do try my best to stick to them. Remaining focussed on these 5 items leaves me feeling healthier and allows me to be present and enjoy who I'm with, and where I am. Really at the crux of these 5 keys, is balance. Balanced days and nights leads to a happier and healthier me.
I hope my 5 keys will help you over the holiday season.
My Big 5 Keys to Holiday Balance
1. Exercise - I try to maintain a regular exercise schedule, but if it's just too busy, even 15 minutes of exercise or brisk walking in fresh air helps!
2. Intentional Eating - everywhere you go during the holidays, there's food and treats available. One of the tricks I try is to use a small plate (or a napkin if there are no plates) to place food onto. If I stand beside the food table and graze, I don't feel like I'm aware of how much I'm eating, but if I'm using a plate or a napkin, the quantity I'm consuming is visible and I know when to stop.
At home, during the holidays, I try to meal plan and cook really easy and simple meals - if it takes too long to make, I'm just not going to do it. I try look for recipes that are high in protein and have lots veggies (my Spinach, Lentil and Root Veg Bowl here, is a great one to try or my Christmas Greek Salad In A Jar coming soon)
3. Sleep - this is the most difficult for me. Trying to keep a regular 7-8 hour sleep/wake up schedule is not easy, but I always feel more rested and energized when I do. Whether you leave the party a bit earlier or suggest a Happy Hour gatherings instead of a late dinner, getting those 7-8 hours of sleep a night is so important to your overall health.
4. Mindful Drinking - when you are at a party or event for 3-5+ hours, it's sometimes easy to lose track of your sips. I am trying to practice mindful drinking this year, making sure I stop to recognize the smell or taste the flavours of what I'm drinking, with every sip. This helps me to slow down and enjoy what I'm drinking, instead of just sipping away. I also try and drink at least one glass of water in between every drink. Hydration helps. (@camillestyle has a good blog post about this, or do a search if you would like to read more, there's lots of good information online)
5. Saying "No" - sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed because we just have too much planned. I'm trying to keep in mind that down-time is equally important during the holiday season. Some of my favourite all-time family memories are not all of outings or events, but of times spent together at home playing a game or snuggled up watching a movie. Kids also need down-time as much or more than adults. I try and keep this at the fore-front of my festive scheduling and calendar.
Overall, I wanted to share my holiday intention plan with you, with the thought that if these ideas work for me, then hopefully one or more of these will also work for one of you. If not, that's okay, I'd love to hear what strategies work for you!
Over the years, I find I've been most successful if I'm consciously focused and thinking about only a few things, like the 5 Keys above, instead of the million or so things that are happening around me. Keeping my holiday intentions to the 5 fingers of my hand helps give me a visual and keep them fresh in my mind.
At the end of the day, it's about balance - so have that treat, go to that party, and try see if an intention or two works for you - have a wonderful holiday season.
Happy Holidays,
Krista
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