Christmas is just around the corner and it can be a stressful time for everyone including yourself. A lot of times the stress results from not taking care of yourself or keeping your body and mind healthy. How can you remain healthy and sound-minded amongst the chaos of the holidays? We have come up with some practical ways for you to keep your sanity as well as keep your body fit over the next month!
One of the most important aspects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle over the holidays is obviously exercising. Many people use the “busy” card when it comes to exercising over the holidays because of the excess amount of dinners, Christmas parties, and gift exchanges. There are easy ways to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day without even having to step foot in a gym. Maybe it is going on a walk with your dog or spouse. Or doing a home workout that is free on YouTube in your living room. Another fun way to exercise is going hiking on a trail or exploring a new area of town. If you commit yourself to exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, your body will remain healthy and it will also help you clear the mind of stress.
Another vital component to remaining sane in the chaos is taking time to breathe. Many times, the stress and anxiety of the holidays can get the best of us and overwhelm our minds. It is crucial that we step away from the chaos and let our thoughts and minds breathe. This looks different for people. Journaling in the morning and spending time in the Word is a great way to set your worries to rest and take a deep breath. Painting is also a wonderful outlet to release stress in a quiet room away from any other distractions. Or maybe even laying down for 15 to 20 minutes a day and listening to calming and peaceful music.
One of the best ways to remain mentally healthy over the holidays is to put away social media and mobile devices. Too often we spend our time and energy comparing our lives over the holidays to those around us whether it is our neighbors, friends or family. Instead of focusing on creating our own family traditions and growing closer to our loved ones, we are constantly sucked into the vacuum of comparison by filing our minds with what others are doing. We compare how many Christmas parties we attend, how cute our homemade wrapping techniques are, how many trips we get to go on, and the list goes on and on. Step away from your phone and social media to truly relax and enjoy your Christmas this year.
Don’t let the holidays be a time of the year that overwhelms you. This is a time in the year that should be filled with laughter, love, and thankfulness not stress and anxiety. Your physical health as well as your mental health are important in the midst of the chaos so remember to take care of yourself. Exercise, take time to breathe and step away from the comparison game by putting away your phone.