Remember to make yourself a priority during the holidays

The holiday season can be a joyous time of year, but the whirlwind of parties, shopping, winter activities, and making sure everything is crossed off your jam-packed to-do list could leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

While the adage that it’s better to give than to receive rings true for many of us, especially around the holidays, it’s important to set time aside for your own needs and practice self-care. By prioritizing yourself, you can limit stress throughout the season and help maintain your healthy lifestyle.

Stay consistent with your healthy habits

While it is possible, the holiday season presents certain challenges with regards to keeping your weight loss journey on track. Between office parties and family outings, there will be plenty of opportunities to indulge in unhealthy foods.

At GOLO, we understand that every weight loss journey has its ups and downs, which is why we encourage you to strive for progress and consistency, not perfection.

As your schedule ramps up around the holidays, do your best to stay consistent with what works best for you when it comes to weight loss.

Whether it’s meal planning, eating a plant-based diet, or visiting your local farmer’s market every week for produce, evaluate what you can do on a regular basis to make sure you remain as dedicated to the GOLO for Life Plan as you can during the holidays.

By sticking with healthy habits that have worked well for you throughout the year, you are likely to maintain your weight even if you decide to occasionally indulge at holiday events and celebrations. Plus, you can attend your special events feeling your best and enjoy the holidays guilt-free, knowing you still have your sights on your weight loss goals. 

Focus on what you can control

No matter how busy your schedule gets around the holidays, there are always two things you can control: your thoughts and your actions.

Staying dedicated to your weight loss journey during the holidays starts with believing you can do it! If you do your best to stick with the GOLO for Life Plan, even when you attend parties, and look to get back on track with your Plan if you decide to indulge in an unhealthy holiday treat you love, you’ll be in great shape!

As the holiday season progresses, having a positive mindset and sticking to the Plan will help you stay on track and keep you looking and feeling your best during the holidays and beyond.

Stay active

Your ramped-up schedule and colder weather could put a damper on your normal activity level, but there are plenty of ways you can sneak activity into your day and remain active throughout the season.

Chances are, you’ll be running a lot of errands. So being on your feet and doing simple things like parking further from stores and taking the stairs can add to your activity level while you prepare for the holidays.

Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’

Easier said than done, but declining even just a few holiday activities or events may give you peace of mind and open up your schedule to focus on what’s really important to you.

This rings especially true if you know there will be a lot of unhealthy food that will be difficult to resist and a limited amount of healthy food to fill your plate with.

If you choose to go to a holiday event, make sure there are positives about it from a physical or mental aspect or both! If you think it will cause too much stress or lead to too many unhealthy food choices, maybe it’s time to create a new holiday tradition for you and your family.

Saying no can also be a stress relief when it comes to food at a holiday party. If someone offers unhealthy food at a social gathering, you don’t have to feel guilty about saying no. Try saying: 

• No thank you for now, maybe later.
• I'm so full but thank you anyway.
• No thank you, but the food looks delicious.

 The bottom line is there’s no reason to feel guilty about your food choices. You don’t need to justify your decisions. Just be polite and do what makes you feel comfortable.

Destress by doing the things you love

No matter how busy you get this holiday season, there will always be time to practice self-care to make yourself happy. Whether it’s watching your favorite holiday movie, listening to Christmas music, splurging on a spa visit, or curling up with a good book, it’s important that you find ways to relax and limit stress.

When you’re anxious or stressed about your day, a common coping mechanism is to turn to food. Especially unhealthy, nutrient-deficient food that is readily available this time of year. So the more you can destress and take time for yourself by doing activities you love, the less likely you will rely on food to make you feel better.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Not only does getting enough sleep help you feel better prepared for a busy day, but sleep also keeps your appetite hormones in check, helps with your metabolism, and makes it easier to avoid unhealthy eating habits.

Since there is less daylight during the winter, make it an opportunity to get to bed earlier and ensure that you’re getting the sleep you need to feel your best the following day.

Make a plan for the new year

Eventually, the hustle and bustle of the holidays will be over, and you will finally be able to relax. During your down time, take that time to reset and reflect on all the healthy lifestyle changes you made over the course of the year as well as think about the year to come. 

You can always write down your goals for the upcoming year and improve on how your previous year went.

GOLO is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness or disease. This blog provides general information and discussion about health and wellness related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. GOLO encourages you to consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition. All opinions and articles linked to and from this page are those of the individuals concerned and do not necessarily represent those of GOLO, LLC or its employees. No responsibility can be accepted for any action you take or refrain from taking as a result of viewing this page. GOLO will not be liable for any errors, losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.