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 Maria Faller is a certified wellness coach and the founder of Be A Better You Fitness and Be Better Kids. She is the creator of the Transform and Tell program and author of the newly released book “BABY STEPS: A realistic guide to Being a Better You.” To contact her, visit BeABetterYouFitness.com or follow her on: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @BeABetterYouFit. |
| The momentum of the holiday season begins sometime in late October, when the stores become alive with festive lights, the radio croons familiar tunes and the television begins playing those wonderfully nostalgic shows. Through the years, the retail and media partnerships have grown so extravagant that it can make remembering the true spirit of this season a bit challenging. The four biggest pressures during this season are: decorating, buying, attending and indulging. While these activities can certainly add to the holiday joy, they can also be terribly depleting in many ways. In these circumstances, depletion is not a good thing, not for your health or your wallet. By overextending, overbuying and overindulging yourself, you are sure to cause added stress and exhaustion. With the pressure to decorate, you may find yourself in a friendly neighborhood competition, or you may believe that brighter is better. After all, everywhere you look there seems to be bigger and more enhanced displays to strive for! While this is fun and festive, it can get pretty pricey. The lights, outdoor blow ups, indoor décor and the electric bill will all add up to a hefty expense. Keeping it simple will save you money, time and worry. Buying gifts is another pressure that will hit your wallet hard. The pressure to buy the best gifts for everyone–even a gift card with an amount attached to it–will entice you to spend way more than you should. There’s something to be said about homemade gifts, personally chosen books, and even Secret Santa’s among the office or a large group of friends. Remember, tis’ the season of giving, not draining. Running up your credit cards and spending all your money on gifts will only cause you strain and aggravation. While it can be a great time attending holiday parties, it can also take a toll on your health. If you are burning yourself out trying to make all the invites (the tree lighting ceremonies and the winter wonderlands) you may find yourself with a cold or even worse. The holiday season is prime time for people to land in the emergency room. Whether it is stress induced from a decorating accident or from a nasty virus, you can be proactive and avoid this by practicing self-care. Get proper rest, stay hydrated and do your best to dodge stressful and dangerous situations. Pick and choose your events, say no when you need to, and do not feel guilty about choosing to put your health first. While we are on the subject of parties, another big pressure we feel during the holidays is to indulge! During the celebrations, the pies, cookies, honey-balls, specialty martinis, turkey, and meatballs–whatever your traditions may be–make it easy to overindulge and leave your reservations at the door. Overeating and drinking too much will not only make you feel unpleasant, but will also add inches to your waistline. When you are overdoing it from Halloween to New Year’s Day, your body is sure to go through some unwanted changes. Choose your treats wisely; add water in between your alcoholic beverages, and fill your plate with lots of greens. Also, be sure to aim for 30 minutes of fitness at least three times a week. Practicing healthier habits will keep your immune system strong and your belt on the same notch. The true spirit of the holiday season is to be kind, grateful, helpful and most of all, be joyful. When you focus on putting these tips into practice, the pressure driven aspects of the season lose their appeal and you will find yourself smiling, stress free and truly enjoying the magic of the season. |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 