The Christmas season is a time of joy, connection, and celebration but it can also feel overwhelming. To truly enjoy the season and show up as your best self for family and friends, you have to take care of yourself first.
Title Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
Balancing Health and Holiday Festivities
The Christmas season is a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but let’s face it, it can also feel overwhelming. With endless to-do lists, late-night festivities, and tempting holiday treats everywhere you turn, it’s easy to let your well-being slip to the bottom of your priorities. But here’s the thing: to truly enjoy the season and show up as your best self for family and friends, you have to take care of yourself first.
The Excelerated Fundamentals™—eating, moving, and sleeping—are the foundation of a vibrant, flourishing life. And during the holiday rush, they’re more important than ever. By paying attention to these core areas, you can maintain your energy, improve your mood, and avoid the post-holiday burnout that so many experience.
In this post, we’ll explore simple, practical strategies to keep your eating, moving, and sleeping habits on track during the busy holiday season. We aren’t aiming for perfection or looking to place restrictions—we’ll focus on balance and consistency, so you can embrace the holidays with joy and well-being. Let’s dive in!
Self-care Is Especially Important During the Holidays
Self-care is always important if you and I are to be at our best. That’s one reason it is a principle for creating an Excelerated Life™. And self-care is especially important during the holidays when schedules are disrupted, routines can be difficult to adhere to, and even amid all the celebration and joy, stress can take an extra toll.
With all the excitement, hustle and bustle, even the enjoyment of celebrating with family and friends, it sometimes becomes difficult to get proper sleep or enough physical activity. And the food! Who among us can resist the treats and goodies and the huge plates of food at family gatherings?
If we fail to prioritize self-care during this time, we may end the holidays in a funk–stressed out and feeling guilty, anxious, even sad. But taking time to care for ourselves helps us enjoy the holidays more, to feel better and more relaxed. We’re not aiming for perfection and it isn’t one-size-fits-all. Find a few things you can do to relieve the pressure, reduce the stress, feel better physically, and bring on a better mood mentally and emotionally.
Excelerated Fundamentals™
Let’s start with the basics, the Excelerated Fundamentals™ of eating, moving, and sleeping. We might think of these as the pillars upon which our health and well-being are dependent.
What is one small step you can take during the holiday season to keep on track with
- your eating?
- your sleeping?
- your physical activity?
To reiterate, this is not the time to start a new workout, try that diet you’ve been reading about, or make any drastic changes in habits or routines. But do pay attention and pick one “must do” or one “must not do” in each of these three areas, and do your best to stick with it.
Simple Ways to Stay Healthy During the Holidays
In addition to the fundamentals, there are ample suggestions for other self-care activities that could help in our efforts to stay healthy during the holidays. Here are a handful of them.
[See Resources for even more ideas.]
Know what is important to you. When you have clear priorities, choices become easier and you’re more likely to stay focused on the things you want, the ones that contribute to a meaningful holiday for you.
Make time for self-care. Which, by the way, is the point of this entire post. Understand, really understand, that taking care of yourself is not selfish or self-centered; it is absolutely necessary if you are to give your best to family and friends. And remember this: the busier you are, the more important it is to schedule in time to take care of you.
One way to block out some self-care time is to begin a morning routine or stick to the one you already have. You can make a little time for yourself, even 10 to 15 minutes, by getting up a few minutes earlier (while still ensuring you’re getting enough sleep). If you don’t have a morning routine, start small – meditate for a few minutes, write in your journal, read an uplifting passage, or enjoy the stillness with a cup of tea or coffee.
Just say “No.” It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the activities, decorating, shopping, parties, etc., etc., etc. And as we discussed last week, you already have more to do than you can get done. That’s especially true during the holiday season. So learn to say no to things that are not important, satisfying, or fulfilling. If you have trouble with the “no” word, say, “Let me get back to you.” At least you’ll have time to reflect and decide if it’s something you want to do. But remember, too, that “No” is a complete sentence.
Miller, Liam. “Holiday Self-Care Tips.” MindJournal. MindJournal, . Web. December 12, 2024.
https://themindsjournal.com/quotes/holiday-self-care-tips-self-love-quotes/
Enjoy! but indulge responsibly. You want that Christmas cookie? Then have the cookie. Just don’t have a half-dozen of them. The cake looks delicious? Have a piece of the cake. One piece. Savor the holiday treats but stay mindful; fill your plate with veggies and proteins before indulging in sweets. Balance the holiday treats you love with nutritious choices…and don’t overdo it!
Keep sleep a priority. In embracing your Excelerated Life™, you already know the importance of getting enough sleep. It is especially important when you may be extra busy or finding things a bit stressful. Balance out the late-night parties, shopping trips, and gift-wrapping marathons with adequate sleep, and by napping during the day when you can.
Keep active. This may seem to be stating the obvious but I don’t mean holiday activities. Try to get some movement in most days. Skip the elevator. Take the stairs. Walk a few extra laps at the mall. Dance while decorating the tree. Small bursts of movement can keep your energy high and your stress low this holiday season.
Be grateful. This is a helpful self-care practice at any time, and especially beneficial during the holidays. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to pause and reflect on what you’re grateful for. Research shows that practicing gratitude can boost your mood and resilience—even during stressful times. And when you think about it, don’t you have plenty to be thankful for?
5 Small Steps to Care for Yourself This Holiday Season
- Choose one non-negotiable for each Fundamental. Decide on one thing you will do for your eating, moving, and sleeping habits—and stick with it. For example: drink water before each meal, take a brisk 10-minute walk daily, or aim for 7 hours of sleep every night. Small, consistent actions make a big difference.
- Set boundaries to protect your energy. It’s okay to say no to obligations that drain you. Set clear boundaries around your time and energy so you can focus on the activities and people that truly matter. Remember: your well-being is essential, not optional.
- Pause before you indulge. Before reaching for that second serving or an extra cookie, pause and ask yourself: “Will this bring me joy or regret?” Enjoy the flavors of the season, but stay mindful. Eating with intention helps you savor the experience and avoid the post-holiday slump.
- Move in ways that bring you joy. Holiday stress can build up fast, and movement is one of the best ways to release it. Find activities that make you smile—dancing to Christmas music, playing in the snow, or stretching in front of the fireplace. Even small bursts of movement can lift your mood.
- Create a bedtime wind-down ritual. Protect your sleep by setting a clear bedtime routine. Dim the lights, sip on herbal tea, or listen to soothing music. By creating a relaxing ritual, you’ll cue your body that it’s time to rest, even during the holiday hustle.
(Please NOTE: I am neither a medical professional nor a licensed counselor. If you suffer from any health issues and/or before you make major changes in your health maintenance, consult with a qualified medical professional.)
A Holiday Gift to Yourself
Taking care of yourself during the holidays isn’t selfish—it’s a gift to everyone you care about. When you tend to the Excelerated Fundamentals™ of eating, moving, and sleeping, you’re not just surviving the season; you’re thriving in it. By practicing balance and consistency, you’ll end the holidays feeling energized, joyful, and ready to embrace the New Year.
This season, give yourself permission to pause, breathe, and take small steps that prioritize your well-being. The result? A more meaningful, joyful holiday experience—for you and for everyone lucky enough to share it with you. And that’s you embracing your Excelerated Life™!
Which of these small steps will you practice this week?
Commit to one, and start building a stronger, more joyful holiday season today.
Share your experience by leaving a comment below.
Excelerated Fundamentals™ — perfecting basic self-care practices — is one practice for creating your Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing and well-being, and a life of meaning, purpose, and service.
Read more about the Excelerated Life™ .
Resources:
“20 Tips for Holiday Self-care.” Health Coach Institute. Health Coach Institute,. Web. December 7, 2024.
https://www.healthcoachinstitute.com/articles/20-tips-for-holiday-self-care/
Carver, Courtney. “25 Simple Ways to Take Care of Yourself Over the Holidays.” bemorewithless. bemorewithless,. Web. December 7, 2024.
https://bemorewithless.com/take-care/
“How to Have a Stress-free Holiday: 16 Holiday Self-care Tips.” Calm. Calm.com,. Web. December 7, 2024.
https://www.calm.com/blog/holiday-self-care
This blog post includes research information provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. To learn more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, you can visit the OpenAI website. https://openai.com/