All Around Tips for Surviving the Holidays
1. Tame the Party Animal
I often try to go to every holiday party, happy hour, and social event on the calendar. This isn’t realistic and then you burn the candle at both ends. Pick and chose your holiday events, you don’t have to say yes to every party.
I often try to go to every holiday party, happy hour, and social event on the calendar. This isn’t realistic and then you burn the candle at both ends. Pick and chose your holiday events, you don’t have to say yes to every party.
2. Everything Doesn’t Have to be Perfect.
I love my house to be in order, my tree to look perfect, the food I cook to be delicious etc etc. This year we will be having my parents, my in laws, my brother, his wife and our 1.5 year old twin niece and nephew for Christmas. I am already stressing about how I can have the house look perfect and still be baby proofed. How will I have time to make the cutest pinterest appetizers? My realization is it doesn’t have to be perfect. No one will remember the cute appetizers or if the fireplace has a cardboard box over it because the twins keep trying to crawl into the fireplace. What we will remember is watching the twins open up presents, the laughs that we will exchange over too much wine being drank, the funny off the wall “Big Pete comments” and most of all the time we spent together.
I love my house to be in order, my tree to look perfect, the food I cook to be delicious etc etc. This year we will be having my parents, my in laws, my brother, his wife and our 1.5 year old twin niece and nephew for Christmas. I am already stressing about how I can have the house look perfect and still be baby proofed. How will I have time to make the cutest pinterest appetizers? My realization is it doesn’t have to be perfect. No one will remember the cute appetizers or if the fireplace has a cardboard box over it because the twins keep trying to crawl into the fireplace. What we will remember is watching the twins open up presents, the laughs that we will exchange over too much wine being drank, the funny off the wall “Big Pete comments” and most of all the time we spent together.
3. We all have opinion, but sometimes it’s better to keep them to yourself.
This is something that I have been working on my whole life. My mom always told me it’s better to have friends than to have an opinion. Getting family and friends together can bring forward past issues or too much wine flowing may allow for disagreements to arise. Christmas dinner isn’t the time nor the place for you to deal with this. A few tips for you when you find yourself in this place. Take a moment and leave the situation, you don’t need to be rude or be a “drama queen about it” like my Dad would say. Simply excuse yourself for a moment alone. In this moment take a deep breath and as hard as it can be, gather yourself and your feelings. Remember it is Christmas so take the HIGH ROAD and always try and BE KIND. As hard as it can be, there will be other times to disagree, give your opinion, or figure out your family or friend issues.
This is something that I have been working on my whole life. My mom always told me it’s better to have friends than to have an opinion. Getting family and friends together can bring forward past issues or too much wine flowing may allow for disagreements to arise. Christmas dinner isn’t the time nor the place for you to deal with this. A few tips for you when you find yourself in this place. Take a moment and leave the situation, you don’t need to be rude or be a “drama queen about it” like my Dad would say. Simply excuse yourself for a moment alone. In this moment take a deep breath and as hard as it can be, gather yourself and your feelings. Remember it is Christmas so take the HIGH ROAD and always try and BE KIND. As hard as it can be, there will be other times to disagree, give your opinion, or figure out your family or friend issues.
4. Ask For Help
You don’t need to be a hero, don’t be afraid to ask for help with cooking, or watching the kids while you wrap presents. The people you are spending your Christmas with are your closet family, be yourself and don’t forget to ask and accept help. When someone offers to bring a side dish for dinner, say yes, even though it may seem small I promise you it will save you some time.
You don’t need to be a hero, don’t be afraid to ask for help with cooking, or watching the kids while you wrap presents. The people you are spending your Christmas with are your closet family, be yourself and don’t forget to ask and accept help. When someone offers to bring a side dish for dinner, say yes, even though it may seem small I promise you it will save you some time.
5. Find Time To Give Back
This may be volunteering with your church, buying gifts for a local shelter, donating money to your favorite charity. We should remember the reason for the season and if we have the means to give back we should. Angela posted about some great gifts that give back. A few of my girlfriends this year got Toms wedges as their Christmas gift. Not only is a great gift, but it gives back to ones in need.
This may be volunteering with your church, buying gifts for a local shelter, donating money to your favorite charity. We should remember the reason for the season and if we have the means to give back we should. Angela posted about some great gifts that give back. A few of my girlfriends this year got Toms wedges as their Christmas gift. Not only is a great gift, but it gives back to ones in need.
6. 70/30 Rule
One too many glasses of champagne and dessert are expected over the holidays. So why not try an adopt the 70/30 rule. Eat healthy 70 percent of the time and then enjoy the other 30 percent. Christmas is a time that is meant to be celebrated, not stressing over the dessert you ate last night. That approach mentally to Christmas is just silly and will ruin your holidays.
One too many glasses of champagne and dessert are expected over the holidays. So why not try an adopt the 70/30 rule. Eat healthy 70 percent of the time and then enjoy the other 30 percent. Christmas is a time that is meant to be celebrated, not stressing over the dessert you ate last night. That approach mentally to Christmas is just silly and will ruin your holidays.
7. Drink More Water
Cheese and crackers, heavy foods, wine, apple cider, pomegranate moscow mules all of these things will leave you dehydrated. Aim to drink a little more water this time of year. I suggested keeping track, I fill up a 2 soda stream bottles (not carbonated) in the fridge and make a point to try and drink both of them during the day. Trust me lots of water will help with EVERYTHING!
Cheese and crackers, heavy foods, wine, apple cider, pomegranate moscow mules all of these things will leave you dehydrated. Aim to drink a little more water this time of year. I suggested keeping track, I fill up a 2 soda stream bottles (not carbonated) in the fridge and make a point to try and drink both of them during the day. Trust me lots of water will help with EVERYTHING!
8. Forget the Gym
Let’s face it, you aren’t going to be able to get to the gym and leave your family sitting at home twiddling their thumbs. (And the most important thing about the holidays is spending time with family, not spending time on the treadmill.) So don’t stress about it, make a point to go on a walk with family, play an active wii game, go outside and play with the kids, go skiing, take a family hike, whatever it is try to encourage your family to be active TOGETHER! And if you do find some time to get a quick home workout in here are 3 great workouts where no equipment is needed.
Let’s face it, you aren’t going to be able to get to the gym and leave your family sitting at home twiddling their thumbs. (And the most important thing about the holidays is spending time with family, not spending time on the treadmill.) So don’t stress about it, make a point to go on a walk with family, play an active wii game, go outside and play with the kids, go skiing, take a family hike, whatever it is try to encourage your family to be active TOGETHER! And if you do find some time to get a quick home workout in here are 3 great workouts where no equipment is needed.
9. Drink Moderately
We all know we are going to have a few drinks over the holiday season. Remember moderation is key, but there are a few little tips that will help you with this. Choose drinks on ice, the ice will melt creating more liquid and allowing you to sip on your drink longer. Use soda water as a mixer, this is my favorite calorie free mixer. I also opt for champagne this is a great drink to sip on during the night for only 90 calories per glass.
We all know we are going to have a few drinks over the holiday season. Remember moderation is key, but there are a few little tips that will help you with this. Choose drinks on ice, the ice will melt creating more liquid and allowing you to sip on your drink longer. Use soda water as a mixer, this is my favorite calorie free mixer. I also opt for champagne this is a great drink to sip on during the night for only 90 calories per glass.
10. Sleep Is Important
Lack of sleep leads to bad food decisions. Use Sunday to catch up on sleep you missed during the week, sleep in a little later or take my approach, take a snooze while the football game is on. During the holidays I know we will be going out more so the nights we are home I make a point to head to bed a 20-30 minutes earlier than my normal time. This allows for extra sleep during the week.
Take all of this advice as you wish, but remember the most important thing is to enjoy the time with your family and friends and focus on the reason for CHRISTmas!
Cheers,
Jess
Lack of sleep leads to bad food decisions. Use Sunday to catch up on sleep you missed during the week, sleep in a little later or take my approach, take a snooze while the football game is on. During the holidays I know we will be going out more so the nights we are home I make a point to head to bed a 20-30 minutes earlier than my normal time. This allows for extra sleep during the week.
Take all of this advice as you wish, but remember the most important thing is to enjoy the time with your family and friends and focus on the reason for CHRISTmas!
Cheers,
Jess
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