8 Deep Health Tips For Staying Healthy During The Holidays

The holiday season brings joy and celebration, but it can also bring its fair share of challenges.

Here's your Deep Health guide to staying healthy and balanced during this festive time of year.

To navigate through this magical yet demanding time of year, consider these practices to support your deep health.

1. Master Stress Management

Holiday preparations often feel chaotic. An abundance of social events, family gatherings, and endless to-do lists can create tension for us.

Try breaking your day into chunks using time-blocking.

Time-blocking becomes your invaluable ally during this particularly busy period. Establish and maintain clear boundaries between focused work periods and essential rest intervals.

Work for 25 minutes, then take a short break.

Make a list of what's truly important versus what's optional. This helps you use your energy wisely.

2. Navigate Holiday Eating

Eat slowly and enjoy every bite.

Try to eat healthy 80% of the time, saving 20% for holiday treats.

This way, you won't feel guilty or need extreme New Year's diets.

3. Keep Moving

Bad weather doesn't mean you can't exercise.

Try quick HIIT workouts indoors.

Do simple exercises while doing daily tasks - like leg lifts while washing dishes.

The goal is to keep moving, even if you need to change your usual routine.

4. Boost Your Immune System

Winter and busy schedules can weaken your immune system. Take vitamin D if you're not getting much sun. Eat fermented foods for gut health.

Choose colorful fruits and vegetables.

Explore the benefits of stress-fighting adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha or rhodiola.

Try adding more fermented foods to promote optimal gut health and immune function.

Drink plenty of water, especially when indoor heating makes the air dry.

5. Prioritize Mental Health

In talking to Chris, one of our psychotherapists the other day, I realized that the holidays can bring up various emotions, from joy to loneliness.

It's normal to feel both happy and sad during the holidays.

If you know this time of year can hit you hard, schedule regular check-ins with trusted friends who can provide support.

Develop the practice of accurately identifying and naming your specific emotions as they arise.

This increased emotional awareness helps you to cope with overwhelming moments throughout the season.

Talk regularly with friends or professionals who can support you.

Learn to name your feelings as they come up - this helps you handle tough moments better.

6. Practice Mindful Gift-Giving

Consider giving experiences instead of things.

Choose gifts that help people learn or create memories. Research shows that experience gifts build stronger connections than physical presents. When buying items, pick ones that match what people really care about.

7. Prevent Burnout

Know your limits with social events and stick to them.

Maintain firm boundaries where you need to during the holiday social season to protect your energy and well-being.

If you need alone time to recharge, plan for it. Introverts need to deliberately plan more recovery time between social events to recharge.

Think of your energy like a battery that needs regular charging. Make time for quiet moments away from holiday demands.

8. Embrace Self-Care

Make self-care a daily habit to support your well-being this time of year. Combine both active and restful recovery activities within your daily routine. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. Also, explore beneficial practices like massages or therapeutic float sessions. These methods help reduce stress and help your body and mind recover.

Using these simple tips can help you stay healthy and happy during the holidays. You'll be able to enjoy the season's magic while taking good care of yourself.