or How to Have Fun and NOT Get Sick and Burned Out
Even though it is still November, it is time to have this conversation. As you read this, the holidays are upon us. Shopping, parties and Chevy Chase on every channel. I must admit that as a civilian, this is my favourite time of the year. As a health professional, the holiday season is a complete disaster for many people and leaves them either unable to enjoy the festivities or worse gets them off on the wrong foot in the new year.
George Bailey, or Scrooge?
How will you end up at the end of this holiday season? Will you be rested and refreshed after having some time off, celebrating a great year and connecting with loved ones, ready to really make things happen in 2012? Or, will you be tired, fat, sick, stressed and burned out leaving you a step behind before January even rolls around? Believe it or not it is pretty simple to make sure you are the former instead of the latter!
Live a Little
You will be relieved to know that I am not going to tell you abstain from all of the goodies (and even excess) that come with the holidays. This time of the year is a celebration so I recommend that you let loose and have some fun. Most people get into trouble however when they throw the baby out with the bathwater. It is not the celebrating that leads to stress and sickness – it is more about what we are NOT doing that creates problems.
Keep Doing What Works!
Many people STOP doing the things that keep them healthy during the holiday season. It is absolutely essential that you do not do this! Go ahead and eat the cookie, but keep eating your clean meat and veggies too. Have a couple of drinks but use the opportunity to some extra time off to get your workouts in. Yes, your inlaws will stress you out, but don’t stop meditating, praying, reading or whatever else you do to connect and relax.
In other words, just keep doing whatever it is that makes you healthy the rest of the year. I actually commit to getting entrained more often in the month of December and I would suggest you do the same. It breaks my heart to see practice members who have made such great progress in their health only to take a break over the holidays and come back in January a mess. It doesn’t have to be this way – I know because I have personally tried both ways.
The holidays provide an amazing opportunity to not only have a great time, but to set the stage for making 2012 the absolute best year of your life. It is my sincere wish that you are able to take full advantage of this opportunity. Keep doing what works!
We will be having our final Discover – The Truth About Back Pain Revealed workshop of the year on Dec. 5th at 7pm. Contact the office to reserve a seat.
To turbo charge your new year I highly recommend attending our Making 2012 the Best Year of Your Life workshop in January at Gault Family Chiropractic. All are welcome.
Thanks for reading this far. Click HERE for a 30 sec clip of the holiday movie I will be watching on Dec. 1st