The holidays are a festive and fun time of year. But, along with all of the excitement can also come stress, tension and sadness. Taking care of your health, both physically and mentally, is important at all times, but especially during the holidays. Here are some ways you can make sure you’re all ready to take on this holiday season and all that comes with it!
Physical health
-Get outside
Countless studies have shown the benefits of spending time outdoors. Not only does it help you get Vitamin D, it has also been shown to improve life satisfaction. Members of a study published by the International Journal of Environmental Health Research reported a 64% increase in contentment after just spending 20 minutes in a park each day.
-Move daily
Everyone knows the physical benefits of exercise such as strength, agility and flexibility. But, the benefits of exercise aren’t just physical. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which help to make you feel happy. Trying to include movement everyday, in whatever form you please, whether it be yoga, running, weight lifting or walking, has immense positive effects.
-Eat nourishing food
With the holidays comes many types of delicious foods. They come only once a year, and it’s important to enjoy them while they’re here! That being said however, it’s still important to make sure that you’re eating some nutrient dense foods. Make sure to not restrict yourself from any of the foods you love, just try to have a generally balanced diet. Thinking about how each type of food makes you feel is also a good way to make choices.

Mental health
-Take some alone time
The holidays mean time with family and friends. While spending time with others is a great thing to do, it’s also important to make sure that you’re taking time for yourself. If you don’t make time to recharge, then you won’t be able to be the best version of yourself when you’re around others. This time can be spent whenever, wherever and however you like, just make sure that it’s a relaxing time where you can refresh yourself.
-Think topics through
Oftentimes, the conversation topic at family gatherings gets shifted to a polarizing topic, such as politics, religion or having kids. This causes the mood to quickly shift from a happy and carefree reunion to a tense argument. Coming up with topic ideas or games prior to the meal can help to avoid these situations.
-Continue interests
Just because things get busy doesn’t mean that you should stop doing your hobbies. Keeping them up will help you ward off stress since your routine won’t be disrupted as much. Even if you can’t make as much time as you normally would, including some time for things that you want to do helps you to make it through the season without a burnout.
-Take a break from the screen
Electronics have many benefits. From online gift shopping to easy communication, no one can discount their usefulness. However, according to the Clarity Clinic, spending too much time on screens can have many negative effects, such as a harder time falling and staying asleep. Some simple ways to take a break are creating phone-free zones in your house and simply not taking your phone with you if you know you won’t be needing it.