Secrets of Healthy Living: Trends, Updates and Articles

The holiday season can be so hectic and stressful that many people forget to slow down and appreciate their lives and loved ones. Remembering to incorporate some gratitude into your personal holiday routine and into your family’s holiday celebrations can make this time of the year even more meaningful. Gratitude time can happen in many different forms. Some people love to meditate, others have gratitude journals, and some simply go around the dinner table and say what they are grateful for. All of these are fantastic ways to show gratitude and spread joy, as studies have shown that consistent gratitude can increase optimism and create a positive attitude and atmosphere.

There is always a lot of concern about putting on extra holiday weight when November and December roll around. Contrary to popular belief, celebrating the holiday season doesn’t have to involve stress about overeating and gaining weight. There are many ways to make your holiday meals a little healthier without taking away the tasty flavor. So much of the world operates around convenience; however, this usually means these convenient foods contain many extra, unwanted ingredients such as added sugars, salt, and fats. Substituting these foods with fresh or homemade versions can significantly cut down on the added ingredients. It may take a little extra planning, but making dishes like homemade gravy and cranberry sauce will be more flavorful and better for you. Check out our recipes page for some tasty but healthier version of your holiday favorites.

The stress of the holiday season can make it easy to forget to care for yourself. Holiday self-care is one of the most important things to remember to prioritize within your busy schedule. Self-care can look like a lot of different things and can be tailored to each individual. Scheduling time for yourself to do the things that you love to do can make the holiday season so much more enjoyable and less daunting. This can look like building in time to get enough sleep, exercise, read a book, or take a long bath. Giving yourself a little space can make you more present with your family and friends this season. The key is sticking to the scheduled self-care time. Treat it like an obligatory, scheduled event and don’t let things get scheduled over it. This way you can enjoy your holiday season to its fullest.