Coaching Tips for Staying Healthy This Holiday Season

Worried about how to stay healthy this holiday season?  Here are a few tips I’ve found to be helpful as I work with my coaching clients who are concerned about the same topic.

Be realistic.  When you plan your social calendar, don’t say yes to every invitation that comes your way.  Prioritize.  Accept the ones you really want to attend.  You can’t do it all.  Well, you can, but you’ll suffer in the end!

Be pro-active. If you’re someone who doesn’t get many invitations and may feel a bit down because of that, seek out some interesting happenings in your neck of the woods to make your holiday more festival.  Community gatherings, public events, concerts, creating your own dinner party with colleagues from work… find a few things you enjoy and make them happen for yourself.

Pivot to adjust your mindset.  If you’ve got a negative thought or attitude about a party you’ve been invited to, try the art of pivoting.  Pivot to a positive thought about how fun or interesting that party might actually be.  It’s all about imagining the possibilities.

Eat smart and keep up with some degree of exercise.  There’s a reason why these items make everyone’s  ‘best advice’ list.  If you eat too much, drink too much and exercise too little, guess what?  You’re going to feel poorly- physically.  And that affects how you feel mentally and emotionally.  And that affects what kind of holiday season you end up having.

One final thought- be kind and generous to someone in need.  Could be someone you know, or a complete stranger. Could be an unexpected gift, a larger than usual donation to the food bank, whatever comes to you… It’s amazing how your own spirits can be lifted by performing simple acts of kindness.

Whatever you do, try to take the ‘worry’ out of the holiday season with these simple tips.  And enjoy a season meant to be joyful, not stressful!