17 Holiday Wellness Tips for a Happy and Healthy Season

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but they can also be incredibly stressful. Between the parties, shopping, family gatherings and other commitments, it’s easy to forget about taking care of ourselves.

Back when I was working 1:1 with clients as a personal trainer and nutritional therapist, I often heard from those who were feeling overwhelmed during the holiday season. They wanted to stay on top of their wellness goals while managing stress and all the commitments that came with this time of year.

That’s why I’ve put together this holiday wellness tips guide for busy women who want to stay on top of their wellness during the holiday season.

These 17 tips have helped me personally, as well as many of my clients, keep energy levels up and stress levels down while managing stress and staying healthy throughout the festive period.

From getting enough sleep to eating mindfully and enjoying quality time with loved ones – these simple steps will ensure you enjoy yourself without sacrificing your health or wellbeing.

Wellness tips for the holiday season

1) Plan ahead to limit stress

Planning ahead is a great way to ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed during the holiday season.

Whether you’re planning your meals, outings, road trips, or shopping, planning ahead can help you save time and energy while also allowing you to enjoy yourself without feeling drained or stressed out.

By taking some time to plan out your schedule and prioritize your most important tasks, you can make sure that all of your commitments are taken care of without feeling too overwhelmed.

2) Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining good physical and mental health, especially during the holiday season.

Sleep deprivation can lead to a variety of issues such as increased cravings for unhealthy foods, increased stress levels, decreased concentration and memory problems. It can also increase your risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Therefore, it’s important to prioritize your sleep in order to stay healthy and well during the holidays.

Having trouble falling asleep? Try some essential oils which have been known to help with restlessness and insomnia such as lavender, chamomile, or cedarwood. Another option is to supplement with magnesium which helps your body relax and prime itself for a restful night of sleep. 

3) Eat a balanced breakfast

Eating a balanced and healthy breakfast high in protein is one of the best ways to ensure that you have enough energy and focus throughout the day.

Not only does it help set up the rest of your day for success, but it can also help to keep your blood sugar levels stable, which can further reduce cravings for unhealthy snacks later in the day.

Eating a nutritious breakfast with a quality source of protein will not only give you more energy but it will also promote healthier habits throughout the day.

This is why it’s extra important throughout the holiday season to start your day off right with a healthy and balanced breakfast as you’re bound to find countless opportunities to go overboard on sugar and less-healthy food during this time.

4) Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is an extremely beneficial holiday wellness tip and an important part of maintaining good health and it can also help limit cravings and overeating.

When we are dehydrated, our bodies often confuse thirst with hunger, leading us to reach for snacks when all we really need is a glass of water.

Additionally, drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day can help fill you up so that you don’t feel as hungry or as tempted to overindulge in unhealthy foods. I personally love adding Trulean Everyday Fit to my water as it makes it so delicious, I drink a lot more of it!

So if you want to keep your cravings under control this holiday season, make sure you stay properly hydrated!

5) Keep to your current morning wellness routine 

It can be difficult to stay motivated and stick to your current wellness routine during unpredictable times.

From changes in our daily routines due to the holidays, to other life events that throw us off course, it’s easy for our health and wellness goals to take a backseat.

However, it’s important to be consistent with your wellness routine even through the holidays because it’s a single constant among a midst of unknowns. It keeps us level headed and reduces our chances of falling off track.

Whether it’s yoga, meditation, listening to music or a podcast while getting ready for the day, having your morning cup of joe with your loved one… Whatever your morning routine entails, with some determination and planning, you can ensure that it remains a priority even during uncertain times!

6) Stay active

Although it can be challenging to find time for exercise staying active during the holidays is one of the most important parts of maintaining good physical health. It’s also a great way to manage stress, reduce fatigue and keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

This could be as simple as a quick 20-min bodyweight workout, going for a walk around the neighborhood to look at lights with family, playing active games outside, or even adding in a fun holiday tradition such as a holiday-themed walk, run, or fitness challenge.

Taking just a few minutes out of your day for some physical activity can make a big difference in your overall well-being. So try to squeeze in some exercise no matter how busy your schedule is!

7) Bring your own healthy dish

When attending a gathering, it can be difficult to find healthy options that fit within your preferred diet. To ensure you have something nourishing and delicious to eat, bringing your own healthy dish or snack is a great option.

Not only will you have something nutritious to enjoy, but it will also keep you from nibbling on candy and other treats scattered around the room before and after dinner. As a bonus, you’ll also be helping others make better choices too!

Bringing your own healthy dish or snack is one of the holiday wellness tips that will give you a peace of mind that there will at least be something nutrient-dense around to fill your plate and stomach and help discourage you from overindulging.

8) Eat your vegetables

Eating a diet rich in vegetables is one of the most important ways to stay healthy and it’s especially important during the holidays. 

Vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals that nourish our bodies, as well as fiber which helps us feel full for longer periods of time.

Whenever you have the opportunity to eat vegetables, take it! 

Whether it’s a side salad at dinner or snacking on carrot sticks and hummus during an afternoon break, make sure you include lots of veggies in your diet around the holidays.

9) Limit your carbs to 1 serving (or less) per dish during Christmas dinner

Carbs are everywhere during the holidays, especially when it comes to the long-awaited Christmas dinner. 

During the holidays, it’s especially important to practice moderation when it comes to carb-heavy dishes such as breads, pastas and desserts.

Do your best to not go for seconds on the carbs as carbs can make you crave more carbs even if you’re already full.

We all know you aren’t going to be skipping dessert (and you probably won’t be skipping the drinks either), so just be aware that bread, pasta, sweet potato casserole, potatoes, stuffing, fruit, corn, wine, as well as all desserts are ALL sources of carbs.

To keep your health in check this season, try and limit yourself to a serving or less of each carb-heavy dish you enjoy and move on.

10) Choose your sweets carefully

The holidays are a time for indulgence, and dessert is often the star of the show. From homemade treats to store-bought sweets, it’s hard to resist temptation when there are SO many delicious options available!

But with all these tasty temptations around us, it can be easy to overindulge in sugary treats if we’re not careful.

Try to be smart about your dessert choice. For example, choose your grandma’s secret family recipe (you know, the one you only get 1x per year) over desserts that can be found at your local grocery store.

Another holiday wellness tip is to resist the urge to munch on the candy that is lying out. That bowl of M&Ms sitting on the coffee table? You can have those ANY day of the year… It’s nothing special. Just because it’s sitting out, it doesn’t mean you need to consume it.

That’s why it’s important to choose desserts carefully during this festive season – and what better way than by indulging in something made with love? Remember, that homemade secret recipe is definitely a smarter choice than grabbing something that can be found off the shelf at the store!

11) Eat mindfully

Mindful eating is a practice that helps us to focus on the present moment and become aware of our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and environment when we eat.

It involves paying attention to both the food we’re consuming and also how it makes us feel.

Eating mindfully allows us to savor each bite of food as well as listen to our body’s cues about when we are full or satisfied. This is especially important during the holiday season because it can help us to make better decisions about what and how much we eat.

By being mindful of our food choices, we can avoid overeating (and then feeling like garbage by doing so) as well as limit or remove any feelings of guilt that may come afterwards.

12) Drink in moderation

We all enjoy a glass of wine or two during the holidays, but let’s be sure to practice moderation when it comes to drinking.

Alcohol and sugar are the main sources of empty calories and can quickly add up in our diets, so try and be mindful and stick to a single glass or two where possible.

Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to dehydration as well as interfere with our sleep patterns – both of which are very important to consider during this time of the year when we’re trying to keep stress levels and cravings low.

By being mindful of our alcohol intake, we can ensure that we remain healthy and happy throughout the holiday season.

13) Set realistic goals

The holidays can be a stressful time of year due to the busyness and expectations that often come with it, but they don’t have to derail your wellness goals.

With some planning and realistic goal-setting, you can stay on track with your health and fitness goals while still enjoying holiday parties.

Start by setting small, achievable goals that are realistic and within your control. For example, if you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight this holiday season, set yourself the goal of getting in 20 minutes of exercise each day or sticking to 2 glasses of wine instead of your usual 5 around holiday gatherings.

Remember, that it’s okay to have treats and enjoy the holidays! We’re just trying not to overdo it so we can feel our very best in and around this season. Always aim to maintain balance and moderation in all things.

14) Practice self care

Self-care is another big holiday wellness tip and one of the best ways to stay positive and healthy during the holiday season.

Take time for yourself each day by doing something that brings you joy such as reading a book, taking a walk, getting in a workout, practicing yoga or meditation, listening to music or a podcast, eating a healthy and balanced breakfast, going outside and soaking up the sunshine, or even just sitting quietly and appreciating the moment.

Regular self-care helps to reduce stress, boost your mood and keep you feeling refreshed even during busy holiday seasons.

15) Don’t compare yourself to others

It’s easy to feel pressure during the holidays to measure up to others’ expectations and experiences.

Try and focus on yourself and your own goals, rather than comparing yourself to what you see on social media or in the lives of friends and family. Comparison is the thief of joy so try not to get too caught up in what everyone else is doing and enjoy this season.

If you’re scrolling on social media, always remember that these are often false depictions and tiny snippets of what is actually going on.

Your happiness and health are what matters most and comparing yourself to others is only going to make you feel bad about yourself and unable to enjoy the holidays to the fullest.

16) Enjoy quality time with loved ones

The holidays are a great time to connect with those that matter to us. Instead of focusing on material gifts, prioritize quality time with friends and family.

Let go of the stress from the hustle and bustle of the season and enjoy your time together. Maybe you can take a break from screens and engage in conversation instead, or take a walk around the neighborhood, or participate in local activities or play some games that bring you joy.

Just remember to take some time to make lasting memories with your loved ones this season.

17) Keep it simple & let go of the holiday guilt

The holidays are a time of celebration and indulgence which can make it difficult to maintain health goals during this season.

The more complicated our goals, the easier it is to become derailed and feel guilty or stressed about the decisions we make.

However, it’s important to remember to give yourself some grace and that feeling guilty and stressing out about your decisions isn’t going to help you stay on track with your health goals. In fact, that can often cause you to make even more poor decisions.

Instead, focus on the present moment and enjoy yourself without guilt while trying not to turn your holiDAY into a week or more of overindulging. Eat your fill at the main event, and indulge in your desserts as well, then get back on track the rest of the week. Your body and mind will thank you for it!

Final thoughts: wellness tips for the holidays

Remember, the holidays don’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. By following these holiday wellness tips and prioritizing your health and wellbeing, you can stay stress-free and enjoy the festivities!

From planning ahead and setting achievable goals, to getting enough sleep, eating mindfully and practicing self-care – it’s possible to stay healthy this holiday season.

Don’t forget that the goal here is to stay healthy while enjoying your holidays, limiting stress, diminishing guilt, and having fun! 

So go ahead – enjoy the food, drinks and company of your loved ones without feeling guilty about indulging some here and there.  And have a happy, healthy holiday season!

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