Staying Healthy & Happy Through the Holidays

It's easy to get run down during the busy holiday season, when we sometimes forgo rest and healthy eating for socializing, parties, and another snowy excursion. Here are a few tips to cut down stress, take care of our immune systems and still find ways to celebrate. Make sure you take care of yourself this holiday season so you can truly enjoy yourself!

1. Figure out what makes your holiday more stressful than fun. Are there certain family members you always fight with? Do you take on too much and then find you don’t have time for it all? Start by asking yourself what makes you feel most pressured or irritable, and then what choices do you have to make this stress more manageable? If you need to get together with a difficult relative, try scheduling in something fun for just you afterwards -- that way you have something to look forward to, and may have an easier time getting through unpleasant socializing.

2. Stay hydrated. This is especially relevant if you're traveling during the holidays, as the low humidity at high altitudes makes plane cabin air dry—and our airways more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. Staying well-hydrated keeps your mucous membranes moist so they can better keep bugs out of your system. If you're flying, down 8 ounces of water for every hour you're in the air.

3. Take the focus off food every once in a while. Instead of getting together to make candies or cookies, plan group activities that aren't all about food (at least not all the time). Make time to create non-edible projects, like making wreaths, bread dough tree decorations or a gingerbread house. Try serving a holiday meal to the community, playing games or going on a walking tour of decorated homes.

4. Remember that this time is about the people you love most -- not those you feel obligated toward. Schedule “together time” with the people who really get you and make sure you save time for what matters most to you. Our bodies and brains respond positively in lots of ways to time spent connecting with those we are close to -- it's important for your health!

5. Stay home when you need to. If you push yourself to go out, skipping a good night's sleep, you can wear down your immune system and increase your likelihood of getting ill. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who slept at least eight hours nightly were about three times less likely to catch a cold than those who snoozed for less than seven. You're not being a Grinch by skipping a party when you feel worn-down; you're being smart. Think of it as preventive medicine.

6. Eat well. There are so many delicious treats around at this time of year. Don't feel like you need to miss out -- but make sure you're eating wisely, if indulgently. Survey party buffets before filling your plate. Choose your favorite foods and skip your least favorite. Include vegetables and fruits to keep your plate balanced. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. Savor your favorite holiday treats while eating small portions. Sit down, get comfortable, and enjoy.

7. Simplify. Are there holiday events or traditions you could live without? Maybe you can gracefully bow out of gatherings or obligations you no longer enjoy. Do you really need to bake all those cookies? Maybe the answer is yes -- but maybe not. Commit only to those things you're truly excited about and give yourself the gift of time by letting other things go. Similarly, if your holiday to-do list is getting long, are there non-holiday related things you can postpone until after the festivities die down?