Sitara Hewitt's Survival Guide to a Happy, Stress-Free Holiday Season!

Holidays are supposed to be fun, warm, and a time to spend with loved ones, away from work and school. We enjoy rich meals and colder temperatures. But what generally happens is that stress increases as the pressure to attend events, entertain children, buy gifts, and organize our own family meals becomes a daily occurrence. Plus, we want to stay healthy and not consume too many unhealthy foods or alcohol, but they seem to be everywhere!

Don't worry! With my survival guide, you'll learn some tips to stay healthy, set kind boundaries, and truly enjoy the holiday season – perhaps like you did when you were a child!

1. Politely say no to extra events.

In advance, make a list of your main priorities and intentions for the holiday season. What do you really want to do and what do you need to feel your best? Things like:

• Quality, unstructured family time.
• 3 to 4 workouts per week.
• Going to bed at 10 PM to be well-rested. Days to sleep in and wake up without an alarm clock.
• Time to see our parents or other elderly friends.
• Time to volunteer.
• Space to be alone and recenter.
• Space to connect with like-minded people, perhaps at church or community gatherings.

Once YOU have a clear understanding of what is most important to you during the holidays, you can better plan your schedule and know what you can say yes to and what you can say no to.

It's okay to say no! We often feel "bad" or obligated to attend events so as not to hurt people, but in reality, if you go to an event and feel resentful or too tired, you're not bringing the right energy. Politely decline if it forces you or your family to rush. You can always plan to see that person in January, when everyone is bored and not busy.

If you tend to feel lonely during the holidays, plan some activities you can look forward to! You can even join meetup groups that match your interests and hobbies!

2. Prepare a "healthy eating plan."

Before you go to holiday parties and gatherings, decide how you want to eat. Most people think in terms of "diet" or depriving themselves of treats, but I like to think of it from an empowerment perspective: "How will I stay healthy and energized during this time?"

That means eating more vegetables and fruits. Plan to eat a large salad every day, filled with delicious vegetables. Have tons of fruit at home. Eat oatmeal for breakfast instead of sweet pastries. Drink two glasses of water upon waking to start the day well-hydrated. Then, if you feel like a treat or a richer meal in the evening, you know you've treated your body well and given it nutrients all day. I advise you to avoid holiday cream coffees and other holiday products in cafes... They fill them with tons of sugary syrup, and it's an empty calorie situation. Save your treats for homemade pies and things you can truly enjoy! A large amount of sugar often leads to a drop in immunity and a kind of "hangover," which is why I'm motivated not to consume it. I know I want to feel good the next day!

3. Take your supplements!

Choose 3 or 4 supplements that you will take regularly during the holidays. My son loves Health First's Multi Family First and Family First Vitamin D (chewable, chocolate, and creamy!) supplements. I recommend Health First's Supreme Stress Release supplement; it keeps me calm and balanced. We also take Family First ProBio Plus D chewable probiotics to combat a certain variety of foods during the holidays.

4. Move.

Go out every day. Bundling up and taking a brisk walk is a free way to exercise and boost feel-good hormones like serotonin. I find it's like meditation; I walk and look at the sky and trees and always feel calmer and more centered. Aim to walk every day and stretch when you get home. Playing outside with the kids is a good idea, as is taking a yoga class or going to the gym.

5. Help someone in need.

Visit an elderly neighbor and bring them a good meal. Invite an isolated family or relative who feels lonely or far from their family during this time. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. It's incredible, but when we give to others, we help them exponentially, and we help ourselves by putting our blessings into perspective. Kindness makes the world go round!

In conclusion… the best way to approach the holidays is to have a plan and clear INTENTIONS about what you want to experience, create, and share. When you decide what you want to look like, you can choose more wisely, set boundaries for your personal time, and have an experience that makes the holidays something to look forward to!

by Sitara Hewitt