Choosing Wellness for the New Year
December 22, 2020
The shops are bustling, ovens are cooking, and there’s a chill in the air! This time of year has us jumping from holiday to holiday, and that lets us decide how we spend that time. Should we turn the dial to vacation mode and indulge a little, or should we stick to our plan?
What is your holiday philosophy going to be this year? It is going to be a shoulder shrug with the plan to ‘be healthy later’? Or is it going to be a strict ‘on plan’ philosophy? Or something in between?
The holiday season can be a time when you make intentional choices that make you feel good about yourself and keep you on track - AND - at the same time, a time when you enjoy your holiday treats!
I like to follow an 80/20 philosophy. About 80% of the time, I’m really conscious of eating mindfully. And the other 20% of the time, I enjoy all the goodies. With all the yummy food around, I want to be able to enjoy them to their fullest extent! And at the same time, I know that when January 1st comes around, I want to feel great and not regret any of my holiday food choices.
Mindful eating lets me maintain my progress during the holiday season and enjoy every bite along the way!
If you want to start 2021 on your best foot and feel great waking up on New Year’s Day, here are a couple tips to help you get there.
1. Make Mindful Choices With Your Food
I'm sure you’ve heard me say it before, but it never hurts to say it again: there are no good or bad foods, just the choices you make. If you’re not happy with your results, you need to make different choices. You can definitely enjoy your favorite holiday snack this time of year. Approaching that choice mindfully and with intention will help you enjoy indulging and not over-indulging.
2. Choose to Move Throughout the Season
When the weather is chilly, it is easy to get settled on the couch with a holiday movie, and that means you have to be really intentional about getting in movement. Rather than snuggling in with a holiday movie or meeting up with friends via Zoom, get together for a walk and talk! This lets you be outside and stay safe, but also get in much-needed social interaction and some exercise. You’ll feel so much better, and you get to enjoy the pretty holiday sights along the way.
3. Choose Yourself
With holiday shopping, baking, and wrapping, it’s easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of this wonderful season! That means it’s more important than ever to take time to recharge. Choose to make time for yourself to practice self-care, even when things get busy. You’ll feel your very best after some time to focus on the things that really make you light up!
This time of year can bring so much joy, and with a few great choices, you can bring that feeling into 2021!