Pro Tip: Enjoy The Holidays!
October, November, and December are some folks’ favorite or most loathed time of the year.
The holiday period brings weather changes, changes in shopping behavior, and changes in expectations from our friends, family, and loved ones. Some folks find eating healthy difficult, while others find it difficult to relax and enjoy the holidays and all the deliciousness that comes with them. For some folks, it’s managing a routine with demanding family travel or saving for holiday gifts at the expense of their health and well-being.
Maybe your job gets extra busy and demanding during the holidays which eats into your ability to show up and workout at the times you prefer. Or maybe cooler winter weather discourages you from getting outside or even braving the roads to drive to the gym.
All the the pressures and stressors that come alongside the joys of the holidays are very very real, and we all experience them differently based on our lives and where we are at with our fitness and health journey.
I always try and keep a few things in mind to ease the stress of the holidays:
1) ROUTINE: I always make sure my meals and my gym or pilates sessions are as consistent as possible. I ensure that I plan ahead and meal prep where I can to ensure I have some baseline level of consistency in my week. Even if I only make it to 1 or 2 workouts, or if I only can make or eat 1/2 of my meal preps, I do my darndest to show up for myself 50-70% of the time.
2) Plan extra time for everything: Heading to Pilates? Maybe pick an earlier or later class to account for winter weather or bad conditions. Or give your coach or instructor a heads-up if you are stuck in traffic. People can drive crazy or act crazy due to stress this time of year, don’t let that be you. Don’t get caught up in the mayhem. Plan ahead, give yourself time, and do not overcommit. It’s okay to say no to things.
3) ENJOY yourself: The holidays are just a short time of the year. Amidst your routine, you should allow yourself to ENJOY them. Eat foods you love and spend time with people who bring you joy. If this is the one time of year you can get everyone together a few times, or spend time with your kids or parents, skip the gym, and go have dinner with people who bring you joy. It’s not all the crazy work we do or how amazing we look that matters; rather, our relationships with people and how we bless their lives matter most. So although routine and meal preps are important, go easy on yourself and have a little perspective!
4) Ball on a budget: I SAID IT. There is ZERO shame in ballin’ on a budget, even if it’s a SMALL ONE. Life is tough and expensive, and managing the expectations of our friends, families, and loved ones is important. If it’s really important to you to eat healthy or continue with a gym or Pilates routine, then make sure to continue to plan for that. For most of us, we get one or two things in a week that we can look forward to. So budget EARLY for the holidays and establish some ground rules for yourself. Set expectations with others as needed. The holidays are about giving, sharing love, and embracing people who bring us joy, but don’t let your self-care get lost in the mix. So take the pressure off, make a budget, set healthy expectations, continue to prioritize the things that bring you joy, and don’t run yourself into the ground! 🤎
Finally, if you are out Christmas shopping and see something you have been saving for or on your wishlist….treat yourself. Life is short. So enjoy it!!
Xx
Malissa
