Healthy Hacks For A Healthy Holiday

The holiday season is a busy time for all of us, making it easy for us to prioritize everything other than our well-being. Contrary to popular belief, the season of giving doesn’t only pertain to the way you give back to others, it also pertains to the way you give back to yourself! How you treat your mind and body throughout these next few weeks is imperative for having a happy holiday season and beyond.

So, don’t let meal prepping, shopping, hosting, and other festivities take up all your time. Instead, focus on putting the “me” and merry this holiday season by following these four health hacks!

Practice Mindful Eating

When you think of treating your blemishes or stressed skin, you may think to reach for a trusted acne treatment to help you target these problem areas. But, in addition to these highly effective solutions, you may also benefit from practicing other healthy lifestyle habits, such as mindful eating, for example.

The holidays are notorious for their sweet and savory homemade meals and baked goods. Because of all the deliciousness that we’re exposed to during this time, many of us tend to overindulge, causing us to experience negative impacts on our health and well-being. Aside from obvious issues like weight gain or high blood pressure, acne is another common health condition that can occur as a result of a poor diet.

Fatty foods and sugary drinks can lead to glycation and a release of insulin in the body— both of which can lead to acne. That being said, it’s necessary to be considerate of what you’re consuming and how often you’re consuming it. Remember, it’s not necessarily what you eat, it’s how often you’re eating it.

Delegate Holiday Responsibilities

It can be a lot of pressure to meet the holiday expectations of your kids, friends, and family members, especially when you take on the journey alone. Not to mention, taking on all of the work by yourself also adds more unnecessary stress to your plate, which only takes away from all the joy that’s supposed to come from doing these activities in the first place.

That’s why it’s crucial to delegate holiday responsibilities. Asking for help from your loved ones is not something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. It’s not your job to make sure that everyone else is happy, even though it may feel that way at times.

The holidays are meant to bring people together, and what better way to do that than by lightening your load and allowing everyone to get involved? Giving everyone a chance to add their own unique touch will make the holidays all the more special and celebratory. So, don’t hesitate to ask for a hand if and when you need to!

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Investe In a Humidifier

It’s no secret that seasonal changes; namely, decreasing temperatures and low humidity levels, take a toll on our health. Whether it’s difficulty breathing, dryness of the skin or a higher risk of infections, the lack of moisture in the air can make surviving the holidays all the more difficult. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in a humidifier this winter.

Humidifiers are both practical and effective in combating a number of winter-related problems. Regardless if it has a warm or cool mist, humidifiers work to add moisture back into the air and retain a healthy humidity level. In turn, this serves to reduce the risk of infections, moisturizes dry skin, eases asthma, and can even prevent snoring, according to Spring Air.

Cool mist humidifiers will add moisture into the air while simultaneously lowering the temperatures for added comfort.  Warm mist humidifiers, on the other hand, come with an internal heating component that works to boil water prior to releasing the moisture back into the air as a calming invisible mist. Neither one trumps the other, so choose one based on your ideal humidity level at home and personal preferences.

Savor the Small Stuff

Before you know it, the holiday season will have ended just as quickly as it started. That’s why it’s so important to stay in the present moment and savor the small stuff, even when things do become a little chaotic.

Overwhelming yourself with daily, weekly, and monthly to-do lists isn’t going to help you get things done if your plate is already full. While they may be useful in keeping you on task throughout the season, these types of lists normally only emphasize the end goals, which can take away from the overall process or experience.

This holiday season, try not to put all your attention on getting things done. Rather, focus on what this time of year is all about; being with the people you love most. Stay present and savor the small stuff that comes from all the holiday craziness. In doing so, you’ll be more likely to take pleasure in seasonal festivities and celebrations.

Happy Holidays!