6 Ways to Stay Healthy During Christmas Without Missing the Fun

Don’t let festive meals, alcohol, and low physical activity take a toll on your health and well-being over the holidays. Keep reading for insightful tips and strategies for a healthier Christmas this year. 

Eat healthy 

It’s hard to imagine Christmas festivities without indulgent foods and delicious snacks. However, overeating can cause stomach discomfort, digestive stress, and weight gain. To avoid weight gain on Christmas, consider eating mindfully: controlling your portions, alternating rich foods with healthy snacks, and drinking plenty of water. 

Here are the recommendations to keep your diet balanced: 

1. Balance your meals. If you have a festive gathering with friends tonight, have a healthy breakfast and lunch so that your diet is healthier overall. Never skip meals – consistency is important for digestion and helps prevent overeating. 
2. Control your portions. On festive gatherings, fill your plate with veggies and fruit first, and then add a smaller portion of less healthy food. 
3. Eat healthy snacks. Instead of snacking on chips or pretzels, have healthier snacks such as mixed nuts, apple slices, grapes, or dark chocolate. Thus, you’ll reduce the consumption of rich foods. 
4. Switch to healthier recipes. If you’re hosting a Christmas dinner or attending a potluck, cook healthier versions of traditional Christmas recipes, or prepare vegetarian dishes to reduce calorie intake. 
5. Use a food tracker app. Apps like MyFitnessPal and fatsecret help you track calories, know your eating habits, and make smarter food choices during holidays. 

Watch your alcohol intake 

According to the US Dietary Guidelines, women should have no more than 1 drink per day or 7 drinks per week. For men, the limit is 2 drinks per day or 14 drinks per week. Having too much alcohol can slow down your metabolism, increase blood pressure, and cause headaches.

If you choose to consume alcohol, limit it and follow these tips:

1. Opt for lighter alcohol versions. Have a couple of glasses of wine or champagne instead of sweet cocktails or strong drinks. Thus, you’ll reduce calorie intake, plus such drinks are better for your health.  
2. Balance out each alcoholic drink with a glass of water. It will help you stay hydrated and feel better next morning. 
3. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Sip your drink slowly with a meal. 
4. Set limit for alcohol. To avoid binge drinking, set a limit for yourself in advance, for example, no more than three glasses of wine or two beers. 
5. Consider non-alcoholic beverages. Instead of alcoholic drinks, make non-alcoholic cocktails or sip a fresh juice or soda. 

Stay active 

If you exercise, you might not be able to follow your regimen on holidays. So, plan other types of physical activity, such as hiking, walking, cycling, or else to stay fit. Research local holiday events, go to the nearest park, or simply head outside for active games. Staying active reduces your chances of gaining weight, improves the quality of sleep, strengthens your heart, and boosts endorphins.

1. Exercise at home when you have time. A 15-minute YouTube workout will help you stay fit and healthy when you have no time for the gym. 
2. Take a 30-minute brisk walk in the morning. It will energize your body and mind for the entire day. 
3. Incorporate exercise throughout the day. As you cook or do other preparation, take five-minute breaks to stretch or dance. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or walk an extra block when going to the grocery. 
4. Plan activities for the family. Plan a hike in the park, play active games or simply walk around – get everyone moving! 

Move focus away from food 

Avoid staying in all day – most people overindulge because they haven’t planned anything interesting. Move the focus away from food and passive activities like watching movies to doing something interesting with your family and friends. Planning events, sharing emotions, and having a good laugh will relieve stress and strengthen relations with your loved ones. 

Organize Secret Santa with family, coworkers, and friends 

Planning the Secret Santa exchange is a great way to share the joy of giving and add a touch of mystery to the gift exchange tradition. If you haven’t played Secret Santa for a while, here’s how it works. All participants in your group draw names randomly and prepare one personalized gift for the person whose name they’ve drawn. On Christmas day, people unwrap their gifts and guess the gift-giver. 

You can streamline the exchange with our MySanta app which draws names in seconds even for large groups, and lets you track presents. Plus, you can set exceptions and create wishlists, helping players find a perfect present for their giftee. 

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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Reduce stress 

Christmas holidays can be incredibly stressful. Time-sensitive projects at work, choosing gifts, and holiday planning can add up the pressure and take a toll on your mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, 9 in 10 adults feel stressed at this time of the year. Follow these recommendations for a stress-free Christmas: 

1. Plan in advance. Plan the Christmas party, buy gifts, and take care of other preparations months in advance to avoid being overwhelmed in December. Use our all-in-one holiday planning checklist to stay on top of all preparations. 

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2. Set realistic expectations. We often stress because we want everything to be perfect. To reduce anxiety, give up on the idea of having an “ideal” celebration and focus on spending quality time with your loved ones. 
3. Delegate tasks. Ask your partner, kids, and friends to assist with holiday preparations to ease your workload. 
4. Make time for yourself. Plan some “me” time on holidays to do something you enjoy and relax. Read a book, meditate, have a spa day, or do anything that recharges you and makes you happier. 

Get enough night’s sleep 

For good physical and mental health, you need 7-9 hours of sleep every day. Not getting enough sleep weakens immune system, causes mental health issues, and may lead to a weight loss, high blood pressure, and other conditions. 

Good sleep helps you restore and keep energy levels high, so try to maintain a sleep regimen even on holidays. If you’ve had a sleepless holiday night, you can catch up by taking a nap or sleeping more the next day. 

5 tips to sleep better at night 

1. Don’t consume caffeine late in the day (at least 8 hours before bedtime)
2. Reduce long daytime naps
3. Avoid having a late dinner 
4. Don’t drink alcohol before bedtime 
5. Practice mindfulness (such as controlled breathing or progressive muscle relaxation). 

Staying active, eating healthier food, and sleeping well will help you feel energized and stay healthy during holidays. Start incorporating new habits into your routine before holidays. By Christmas, they’ll become natural for you and you’ll follow them effortlessly. 

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