I love this time of the year. But, it sometimes seems like the holiday causes our “to do” list to double! Below are my top five tips to stay healthy in body and mind this holiday season.

Make self-care a priority. Really, I could probably end this blog post right here! With this busy season, make sure to take time for yourself and keep some of your healthy habits going through the holidays. You’ll feel much saner for it! It can be as simple as starting your day with hot water and lemon, or as indulgent as treating yourself to a massage. If you are feeling stressed out, why not incorporate 10 minutes of meditation into your day? Try the Headspace app for a free beginner’s meditation series.

Get enough rest. These short days are queues for our bodies that we may need more sleep than usual. Make sure to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Check out my blog post on how to get an awesome night’s sleep.

My thoughts on gifting… I love the idea of giving thoughtful gifts. But, I don’t like the idea of adding more clutter into people’s lives OR stressing out over gifting and shopping OR overspending and stressing out about a huge credit card bill later. I prefer to either give an experience (gift card for a massage, yoga studio, cooking class or art class) or a special food item like coffee, tea, or dark chocolate.
Here is a gift guide I did last year of gifts under $20.

Have a holiday party strategy! Sure, it’s healthy to indulge a little at holiday parties. Enjoy a great cocktail or glass of wine or a special dessert you don’t get very often. My party strategy is to always eat something beforehand. If I show up hungry, I know I will probably overdue it on rich foods, and not feel so great the next day. This is really important to do if you have a special diet, like vegan or gluten-free. I usually do something easy and quick, like a bowl of quinoa with a little sea salt, or a green smoothie. If you want coffee the next morning, try this.

Gratitude – This time of year, it’s really about gratitude, isn’t it? With the world going crazy lately, let’s take a moment every day to appreciate the good things in our lives!