The Twelve Tips and Tools for the Holiday Season, Part I

C.H.A.R.G.E. #021

“Concentration is the secret of strength.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

‘Tis the Season to be careful, if you want to stick to your wellness program during the holidays.  With all of the parties, shopping excursions, vacations, family gatherings, and opportunities for nutritional nightmares it’s no wonder that New Year’s Resolutions follow shortly thereafter.  As stress and depression escalate and wellness program participation diminishes, the need for concentrating on your health becomes of the utmost importance.   To help you stay focused, here are the first four of my “Twelve Tips and Tools for the Holiday Season”:

1. Practice mindfulness.  If you’re looking for an opportunity to become more mindful, this is it!  Increasing your awareness and attention to your health and wellness is essential for success during the holidays.  It’s easy to get caught up in the “Holiday Spirit”, tempting you to indulge on delicious treats, or skip workouts to go shopping.  This is not a time to be self-critical, but rather an opportunity to consciously make choices that support your health.  Write down your goals and read them daily to stay focused and away from the eggnog.
2. Create a reward system for yourself.  It happens all of the time, people slack off of their exercise and nutritional program when the rewards/benefits are not apparent.  Keep in mind that regardless of whether or not you are visually seeing results, you are reaping the health benefits of your efforts.  Identify something you truly find enjoyable and treat yourself when you stick to your wellness plan.  Remember, for it to be a reward you must earn it!
3. Ask someone close to you to hold you accountable.  This can be a spouse, close friend, or family member, but they must be willing to hold your feet to the fire.  Give them a list of your goals and be honest about your progress.  Make sure this person understands that accountability is free of judgment and criticism.  Most importantly, they need to encourage you to learn and grow from your experiences.
4. Find a group of like-mind people who are trying to stick with their wellness program during the holidays.  This is similar to finding someone to hold you accountable, but with a like-minded group, you can share different ideas and learn new ways to succeed during the holiday season.  Also, you know you’re not alone, and there are other people experiencing the same challenges.  Ideally, you would spend a lot of time with this group … “You are the company you keep”.

Next week we will look at four more ideas to help you stay on the straight and narrow over the next couple of months.  Don’t create a situation that will require desperate New Year’s Resolutions.

C.H.A.R.G.E. Questions:  What situations do you foresee being stumbling blocks this holiday season?  What strategies can you employ to help from experiencing setbacks?  What exercises can you perform to help increase your mindfulness?  Who can hold you accountable for your wellness?  What are some things you could use to reward yourself?