Skip Chronic Stress This Holiday Season

Enjoy Food in Moderation, Celebrate Festive Season

Holidays are a time to rejoice with get togethers, shopping, travel and food. It is also the time when nothing happens as per schedule. Late-night partying, dining out, haphazard exercise routines and heavy alcohol consumption can take a toll on our health. Holidays come and go and this is no excuse to skip staying fit. What can you do to avoid burnouts during the holiday season?
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Choose the Best
It is essential to stay connected with people. But the question is whether it is needed at the expense of your health. Holidays are a time to have some fun and lift your moods leaving all the stress and tension behind. But attending too many parties can leave you drained out instead of helping you alleviate tension. The same is applicable to foods too. Be choosy about picking the ones that are really needed by you along with a generous share of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and fats to keep your blood sugar and pressure levels in check. Attack these foods without any worry as you have decided to uphold your health and appetite. Eating right during holiday seasons is tricky and you need to keep your willpower tight to fight the cravings. The website, www.firsteatright.com gives you suggestions and tips on eating right during the holiday season.

Don’t Stick to Rigid Physical Routines
Exercise is a stress buster. But doing it amidst high anxiety levels can cause more harm than good. Never stick to routines like leeches. Don’t get the notion that anything less than an intense workout session is of no use. Your goal must be to workout day in and day out leaving out space, time or intensity quotient. When having a tight schedule or without any gym equipment, go for a brisk walk in your holiday resort or guesthouse. Roll out a mat and do some yoga postures or even go for simple stretches while at the airport. Maintaining a flexible workout routine can ease your tension and help you maintain a fitness routine to stay connected with physical activity.

Shun Away the ‘Give Me More’ Attitude
Some are never content with what they have and desire for more and more. While holidays are a time to meet different people, ego, jealousy, hatred and unrealistic expectations can leave us stressed out. Knock out the desires and focus on gratitude to increase happiness and optimism. Share the warmth and affection with your loved ones. We cannot control the things that happen, but we can control the stressors that affect us and change our outlook towards situations. Such activities can improve relationships and keep a person happy.

Live the Present
Before we are done with one party, we start planning for our next party. Researchers have found that, when we do not live in the present, we are less happy. Whatever activity people are doing, be it riding a bike or spending time with friends, a person is happy when he/she is totally attentive to the present moment. Living in the present is an effective way to dispel chronic stress, though it is easier said than done. Take mindful breaks through the day to live in the present. Focus on your breath, the sounds that are around you or your physical sensations to steer you to the present.

Holiday seasons bring along them a decrease in wallet size, an increase in waistline and a change in the daily schedules. Despite all these, it is in your hands to disallow these thoughts to impact your health and take the right steps to minimize tension and enjoy the holiday season.