How To Have A Healthy Christmas Celebration

The winter holiday season is a time of festivities, family reunions, and feasting. For many, the holidays are an excuse to throw diet and exercise plans out the window until the new year. Keeping up your healthy habits will not only help you avoid any holiday weight gain, but may also assist you in overcoming the winter blues and reducing stress.

From Christmas  through the New Year, learn new ways to make your family holiday a healthy, safe, and joyful celebration.


So, let’s be honest about how easy it is to get wigged out this time of year. Here are some of the common holiday pitfalls, mental and physical, which many of us encounter weight change. And, so as not to be too Grinchy about it, there’s also a tip  on how to avoid them – or at least, manage them more effectively when they come your way.

12 Common Holiday Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them


1 ) Overeating

This kind of is the queen mom of the bad vacation habits. Most of all of us pack on a few pounds in the Halloween-to-Christmas stretch, but it does not need to be that way, even at food-centric holiday events. Forbes contributor David DiSalvo, who wrote Brain Player, says that there are one trick researchers found out in a 2010 analysis that can help people avoid holiday bingeing - and it's in order to see the bingeing prior to doing it. "When you see something you'd like to gorge on but know you shouldn't (let's say a large bowl of M&Ms), " says DiSalvo, "try visualizing yourself eating the M&Ms - as many as you care and attention to shovel into your mouth, being careful not to spare any details about how precisely incredible they style. The research predicts that afterwards you'll consume less of the candies you would have if a person would succumbed to your original prefer to gorge without participating in your brain trick. " This sounds counterintuitive, but providing your brain that fictional taste of the hedonism it so desires can actually fulfill the yearning for. So give it a try, and see if it will the strategy.

2. Holiday Depressive Disorder

With all the pressure to be happy earnings season, it's not hard to be depressed. This is also true if you don't have fascinating plans, or any type of plans. On the other end of the spectrum, having too much to do can even be in your mind depleting. Psychologist Suzanne Roff-Wexler, PhD, says that though it can be difficult to tease apart your feelings currently of yr, the holidays - with all their demands and stressors - are typical triggers for anxiety and low mood. "The vacation period can be stress filled.... Parties, gift idea giving, food and alcohol intake, time demands and deadlines increase the stress. In addition to stress, some commence to feel a feeling of sadness and loss - psychologists think of this as 'holiday blues, ' which is time-limited and not in itself specialized medical depression. As the holiday seasons end, the blues typically recede. "

She provides that if the misery sticks around for several weeks or months after the holidays end, it could be actual depression, which needs treatment. But if it's just depression about the simple fact that the holiday seasons, well, exist, then the solution is easy: Simply power through them. Staying social as much or as little as you want to, taking time for yourself to recover and re-center, and training just a little gratitude about the good things in your life (even if it is just that the holidays will be over soon) are all powerful methods for coping. Roff-Wexler says that all the holiday buzz "can take a cost on your mind and body... So don't separate. Seek connection and support. " Most of all, take heart: They'll be over soon.



With all the pressure to be happy this time of 12 months, it's not hard to be depressed. This is especially true if you don't have exciting programs, or any plans. 1 the other side of the coin end of the spectrum, having too much to do can even be mentally depleting. Psychologist Suzanne Roff-Wexler, PhD, says that though it could be tough to tease apart your entire thoughts at this time of year, the holidays - with all their needs and stressors - are classic triggers for panic and low mood. "The holiday period can be stressful.... Parties, gift idea providing, food and alcohol absorption, time demands and deadlines add to the stress. Moreover to stress, some get started to feel a sense of sadness and loss - psychologists consider this as 'holiday doldrums, ' which is time-limited but not in itself scientific depression. As the holiday seasons end, the blues typically recede. "

She gives that if the misery sticks around for several weeks or months following the getaways end, it could be actual depression, which needs treatment. But if really just depression about the fact that the holiday season, well, exist, then the solution is pretty simple: Merely power through them. Becoming social as much or as little as you want to, taking time for you to ultimately recoup and re-center, and practicing a little gratitude about the good things in your daily life (even if it's just that the vacations will be over soon) are all powerful methods for coping. Roff-Wexler says that all the vacation fuss "can take a fee on your mind and body... So don't separate. Seek connection and support. " First and foremost, take cardiovascular: They'll be over soon.

3. Overspending and Debts

Advertisers take no criminals when it comes to pushing the holidays on us nowadays, which can make it easy to get lured in to overspending. Though it's great to be generous with your loved ones, if you're able, a whole lot of us just do too much. Period. Heading into a lot of debt for the holiday season is not a good idea, since you'll pay the price, literally, for months or years to come. Simply get gifts for those in your immediate group of friends of friends and family, and cards for the outer circle. And try, if you can, to pay for the bulk of things outright, alternatively than with charge cards. That may well not be completely possible to avoid debt, but a little is better than a lot.

4. New Year's Eve Fear

An especially grating truth of the season is usually that the New Year is hanging out coming. Although this can be a nice event to start out over for some people, others just feel a feeling of disaster, whether it's about Fresh Year's Eve, having to hear Auld Lang Syne, or perhaps the New Year itself. There's lots of research suggesting that most people fail their New Year's resolutions by about week two, which just gets things off to a bad start. When you aren't a secret New Year's hater, take heart: Generally there are many of all of us out there, and there are some simple approaches to avoid the New Year's stress.

One way is simply not to make any resolutions in the first place. There is reason to get started on a new lifestyle habit or kick a classic one on January first. Do it when if you're good and ready.

And if you are heading to make changes, think deeply about why if you're doing it. If you are just saying you attempting to lose weight because you know you "should, inch go a little further into your motivations. Happen to be you executing it for your kids? Maybe it is because you want to be able to get down and play with them better, or be around for them much longer. Writing out the things that are really generating you will help you remember (especially during times of weakness) why you're making changes in our first place.

Acquiring baby steps - tiny and regimented ones - is another trick for making changes actually happen. Marian Margulies, PhD, a child and adult psychiatrist in Manhattan, says make specific, small steps, somewhat than sweeping, general transactions. "Rather than say you will lose weight, in ways, 'I will become a member of a gym this week. ' In the near future, 'I will go at least one time, ' and then twice the week after. A loftier goal to aspire to can be going two to 3 times a week to the gym. " Nevertheless that can come later - first break down while you make money, and create feasible, teeny steps to get it going.

5. Children Will Drive You Crazy

A major problem with the holidays is the kid pressure. "Parents often complain to me that their children demand the latest hot item, very well says Margulies. "with the rationale, 'all my buddies received it! '" But says do not fall into the "but he's getting it! " trap. And stay strong. "Much as they won't will, children appreciate gifts of your time and thoughtful presents and the price tag does not have to factor in here. If your child longs for a gift idea that is beyond your budget, you might say, 'this is what I can do'.... Meaningful gifts might include helping your child to a special show used by dinner at a common restaurant. A surprise stuffed with meaning and special thought goes a much longer way than spending too much on items popular this time of year. inches

Stress to your kids the real things - the value of family time, gratitude, and aiding others who might not exactly have as much. Naturally, they might not exactly like you at the moment (they may actually despise you a little), but in the long-run, mightbe the better for it.

6. The Holiday Break "Attitude"

People who go holiday-crazy can feel a kind of anticlimax or emotional emptiness during or right after. "Advertisers show us a Christmas season packed with romance, extravagant riches, wholesome family cohesiveness, and major celebrations with friends that can mean you can feel inferior by not living up to a discussed image, " says Roff-Wexler. But once you're not sense everything you think you "should, " don't over do it by faking it. "One danger is at seeking to overcompensate with a temperament of entitlement that's ridiculous! The media's image of the holiday can also underscore feelings of loneliness and low self-esteem. " Knowing how the actual holidays are actually about - family, love, togetherness, re-centering (and other things, depending on your religion) - is important in making through the growing season in one piece.

7. Household Mishaps and ER Visits

The guy dangling by his foot by the Holiday lights he's trying to hold on the roofing is a classic vacation image. And it's actually not farfetched: Household incidents increase quite a great deal around the holidays, just like ER visits. The CPSC. gov estimates 12-15, 000 holiday-related accidents, with at least 12, 500 ER trips. So be careful, and care for yourself and your kids, so you don't conclude spending the holidays at the hospital.

8. An Eggnog to Take the benefit Off?

Drinking too much will pretty common around the holidays, whether really to celebrate the celebrations or take the border off schmoozing with co-workers or family members you'd probably rather not spend your free time with. Constance Scharff, PhD, Senior Craving Research Fellow and Overseer of Addiction Research for Cliffside Malibu, points away that at this time of year, "it's not simply those with drinking problems who overindulge. Those who do not often drink can find themselves having a little too much at parties, when they're having fun or when they are stressed. A good rule of thumb is never to drink on the lookout for beverages at all at a work gathering. That is not the location to tie one on. inches

She says that a good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to two drinks total, and no more than one an hour, at social functions.

9. The Holiday Office Party Minefield

One other classic and oft-dreaded event is the Holiday Workplace Party, which is even riskier if it offers endless free drinks. Roff-Wexler points out that finishing up in bed with your colleague is no way to finish the 12 months. "Holiday office parties can be dangerous when possibly decreased inhibition causes damaging personal and/or professional outcomes such as inappropriate work environment affairs, bullying, or competition. You can also harm your reputation with a drunken ego. " Make use of the two-drink rule to get through this one, as well as to ensure your reputation - don't drink in any way.

10. Family Stress

If you have a great, supporting, sane family, by all means skip ahead. For many, spending time with the family or extended family is a mixed great thing, or maybe incredibly painful. Having quizzed by Aunt Mildred about your relationship position, your job, or your irritable bowel syndrome are just some of the reasons we hate holiday break gatherings. Drinking to get through these get-togethers is not the best way (refer to #8). In the event you're in the "I can't stand my family" boat, making an appearance for a little little, making the rounds, and then politely skipping away, saying you have another commitment to access, is an improved (and mentally healthier) way to get through it.

11. Unrealistic Expectations

And the flipside, let's be honest, the vacations don't make everything better like they do in the films. "We like to feel that this year will be different, " says Scharff, "that the uncle that is an alcoholic will somehow not be inebriated at Holiday dinner, or the work holiday party that is often stressful and awkward will somehow magically change. inch But things don't usually work out like they do within a Xmas Carol, and acknowledging that reality is much better than hoping for a scenario that is probably not going to happen. "People and situations are what exactly they are - and we need to acknowledge that going into the season, " says Scharff. "If we adapt our expectations, we'll have an improved time enjoying the gifts of the growing season. "

12. Becoming A Mall Santa

Tens of thousands of kids take a seat on Santa's lap yearly in the mall or variety store. Forbes editor Serta Bigman wondered whether shopping mall Santas might pose any health hazards. While there's no hard science on the subject (that I've found anyway), considering how many children he comes into contact with every day, it's certainly plausible. Between the possibilities, Mall Father christmas could be a jar for viruses (the common cold, flu, and belly flu), bacteria (staph), and larger creepy-crawlies that must be better not to even think about.

Aside from the organisms your child might be contracting, the competence of waiting in the mile-long Santa line is enough to stress away any sane adult. While with any other item in the Holiday Disappointment arena, just breathe through it, and accept it for what it is. Don't hope for too much, but don't creep yourself out preparing for the worst. And keep in mind the most comforting advice coming from all: They'll all be over soon.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Stay healthy!