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. 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. Or, why not take one of our yoga classes?

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.

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, mani-pedi, yoga class, cooking class or art class) or a special food item like coffee, tea, dark chocolate or homemade granola.

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.

Gratitude – This time of year, it’s really about gratitude for all of the abundance in our lives. With the world going crazy lately, let’s take a moment every day to appreciate the good things in our lives. Start a gratitude journal or take a photo every day of something you are grateful for.

Holiday Granola Recipe

Granola with almond milk and fresh fruit is one of my favorite breakfast meals in the winter months. Store-bought granola is loaded with sugar and preservatives. Try this easy and recipe – so much more delicious than anything you can buy. This recipe makes 3 quarts of granola.

Gather:
6 cups whole oats
1 cup nuts (almond, walnut, pecan, cashews)
1/2 cup seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin)
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla powder
3/4 cup dried fruit (dates, sour cherries, cranberries)
Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Make:
Oven @ 350F.
Mix everything together except for the dried fruit. Spread onto 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Bake for about 30 minutes – until it is browned – stirring a few times.
Let cool completely & stir in dried fruit.