Surviving The Season: Our Tips to Stay Well During The Holidays

Feeling the Holiday pressure?

In the midst of Winter’s chill and the Holiday rush, your own well-being deserves space to breathe. The natural world around us is slowing down, so why shouldn’t we? Winter invites us to turn inward, and it is especially important to support your mental health during these longer, darker days. Did you know that we, as Canadians, are more prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder due to our northern latitude, which results in less sunlight during the winter?

The Holiday season can be equal parts joyful and overwhelming. Schedules get busy, routines slip, and we're surrounded by comfort foods and sweet treats. Between gatherings, travel, and to-do lists, our well-being can take a back seat.

Here are some simple tips to keep you grounded, nourished, and feeling your best throughout the season:

*These suggestions are not intended to replace appropriate professional advice. Please check labels for contraindications and check with your pharmacist if you are on prescription drugs. These suggestions are based on over 40 years of customer experience at Jo Anne’s Place.

Start your morning right.

• Be sure to start your morning off on the right foot! This will ensure that you’re sneaking in the nutrients that will keep you energized early on, and will help to make sure you’re feeling satiated. If you’re feeling satiated and hydrated, you’ll be less likely to start reaching for refined sugars and sweets.
• Start your morning off with at least 500 ml of water
• I like to put water on my nightstand before bed so I can drink it as soon as I wake up.
• Warm Lemon + Ginger Tea
• Consuming some warm lemon + ginger tea is a good way to wake up your digestion, and stoke your digestive fire for the day.
• Green smoothie
• This will give you a natural energy boost and provide lots of nutrients to start your day.

Protein, Fat and Fibre

• Ensure every meal has protein, fat and fibre! This will ensure you’re feeling satiated and have lasting energy for the day.

Pay attention to your digestion.

• Chew!
• Fibre + Water
• Consuming adequate fibre and water throughout the day will ensure you’re properly eliminating. When your digestion isn’t supported and is sluggish, we often feel sluggish as well.

Eat when you’re hungry, but pay attention to your body telling you that you’re full.

Try to consume fluids away from meals to avoid bloating!

• I like to wait at least twenty minutes before and after a meal.

Set yourself up for success.

• Be sure to have healthy alternatives available to you! This may mean preparing lunches during the week, or bringing a healthier side to a party you’re attending! Being prepared will eliminate a lot of anxiety that can often surround the buffet table at a holiday party.

Prepare healthy alternatives

• If you’re hosting, be sure to have some healthier alternatives available, or bring this winter salad to a party you’re attending!
• Focus on low-glycemic sweeteners like maple syrup, honey and coconut sugar.
• If you’re consuming alcohol over the holidays, be sure to stick to low-sugar wines, cocktails, or mocktails. You’ll find some fun low-sugar mocktails here!

Schedule time for yourself and say NO when you need to.

• There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving yourself space and setting boundaries!
  

Minimize caffeine

• Caffeine in large amounts can be very taxing to your adrenal glands, the glands that secrete your stress hormones! While caffeine can provide short-term energy, it can also lead to a crash.
• Aim to have one coffee per day so that you’re not falling into a vicious cycle. And/or try alternatives like Matcha, which has L-theanine to avoid that caffeine crash.

Get outside and move your body.

• Even if it’s just a 10-15 minute walk, getting outside and moving your body can really improve your mood and decrease anxiety levels. Plus, soak up some mood and immunity-boosting Vitamin D!

Practice gratitude

• Being such a busy time of year, we often forget to enjoy ourselves! Make sure you’re taking the time to appreciate what we look forward to all year! Set an intention in the morning, and reflect on what you enjoyed about your day before you go to sleep. Journaling can be a great practice of gratitude as well.

SLEEP!

• It’s important to make sure you’re getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Our body detoxifies when we sleep, so it’s extra important to support this over the holidays when we’re often consuming extra sweets and comfort foods.

All that being said, treat yourself!

• Last, but certainly not least: make sure you’re not depriving yourself. Enjoy some of the foods you love over the holidays, but ensure you’re supporting your body with all of the things we discussed above. Treat yourself, enjoy it and move on!