Happy holidays gorgeous!

It’s 25 days til Christmas and I bet you are as busy as a bee, scrambling to organize parties left and right, house decorating, gift-shopping, all while keeping your sanity throughout this merry season. Am I right, or am I right?

I come from a Filipino family where Christmas preparations start as early as July!  I’m not even kidding.  You can already see lights and decors, hear Christmas songs blaring throughout the shopping malls, and even expect children caroling at your door by sun-down.

But with all the merry-making, lavish dining, and extravagant gift-giving, this season can take a hard toll on our selves—physically, emotionally, mentally, and heck, financially!

So my early gift to you is to share some of my HOLIDAY SURVIVAL TIPS to get you through Christmas and New Year with less overwhelm, and be able to take care of what truly matters—your health, your time, and of course, your family.

TIP # 1. KEEP YOUR USUAL HEALTH ROUTINE.

I know, I know, you might say, ‘But Tara, it’s the holidays! Can I just take a break and get back to my normal routine after New Year?’  Trust me, I hear myself saying those words too inside my head.  But here’s the thing…

You don’t have to wait for the new year to start fresh, and create new habits.   It’s even way better to start or continue your healthy habits especially at this incredibly busy time when you need to be in your best shape.  And by that I mean, free of illness and having enough energy to get through all the events you have planned.  Capisce?

3 Simply Healthy Habits you can do during the Holidays:

1. FIND TIME TO JUST RELAX AND GET SOME QUIET TIME.   Do it perhaps early in the morning or right before bedtime.  Even if it’s just 10 minutes, it will go a long way.  You can meditate, have a good stretch, take a walk, or just listen to some soothing music to calm you down and get you ready for the day ahead.
2. HYDRATE MORE.  With all the caffeine, and sweets, make sure to get enough water, or even double your usual intake.  I like to also have a detoxing smoothie for breakfast to rehydrate my body with not just water, but all the nutrients from the fruits & veggies.  Skip the soda and bubbles on some days, and instead go for naturally-flavored water by simply adding fresh fruits like orange, lemon and blueberries to your sparkling water.
3. GET AS MUCH SLEEP.  Easier said than done, right?  If you can’t have at least 7 hours of sleep, try having a power nap.  Napping has tons of benefits and it can recharge you instantly.   Sleep has a lot to do with our immunity, and even our digestion.  So make sure to get some proper shut-eye if you want to continue enjoying the holiday feasting!

TIP # 2. COLLECT MEMORIES, NOT JUST THINGS.

Yes it’s the season of gift-giving, and while you’re probably already halfway through your Christmas shopping by now, it would be good take a moment to also think of other non-tangible gifts that you can gift your family and your loved ones.

Gift ideas that don’t come in a box:

• TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO TRY OUT SOMETHING NEW this Christmas, like perhaps mountain hiking, ice-skating, or even cherry picking if you’re here in Australia. Find local events that you can do together as a family. Even if it’s just heading to the beach, or camping out by the lake, what matters is it’s something you would surely remember for years through the stories and photos captured.
• MAKE A MEAL FOR SOMEONE. You may not be Martha Stewart, but if you cook it with vitamin L (love!), it will surely be the best present to anyone. You can even make homemade gifts like homemade granola, nut butters, or chocolate peanut butter cups, that are super easy to make and don’t require much cooking prowess at all.
• CREATE A PHOTO COLLAGE. Have a dear friend you want to gift? Why not collect all the photos you’ve had during the year, create a collage which you can print and frame. Or if you have a family gathering, play the slideshow just right before opening of presents, and prepare the tissues for some tear-jerking moments!

TIP # 3. RECEIVE, AS MUCH AS YOU GIVE.

This might come as a surprise as we all have this notion of pure giving during the holidays. Receiving is not just receiving presents, but what I meant is all about receiving help and favors whenever you need it.

ASK FOR HELP. Maybe you need time-off after cooking an incredible holiday feast, so why not ask your mom or sister to perhaps look after your kids first while you go out and spend a relaxing day at the spa. Sounds fancy, but you get the point! You don’t have to do it ALL on your own. It’s okay to ask for help. Period.

GRATITUDE. The holiday season is also about giving thanks and being grateful. And I think the best way to feel grateful is to feel ready to RECEIVE what is of the highest good, and believe that you already have what you need. It’s having that mindset that you are worthy of abundance, good health, and love in all areas of your life. And not just during this time of the year, but for every single day, throughout the year.

Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year, and it’s entirely up to us to make it memorable, less stressful, and meaningful to ourselves and the people we care for deeply.

@FitFoodieMommy

Now your turn to share your own tips to make the most out of this holiday season. Share your ideas in below comments!

May you enjoy the rest of the holidays with more laughter and less stress, more love, and less worry.

xx,