The holidays are a busy, sometimes stressful, joyful, and often overindulgent time of year, which means it can be challenging to prioritize our health.

So, here’s a few tips to help you thrive through the holidays and feel your best:

1. Start Every Day With Protein

BEFORE you have that coffee or energy drink, consume a high protein meal. If you’re someone who prefers something on-the-go, there’s still options: hard boiled eggs, protein shakes, Chobani Complete Yogurt Protein (this is my personal preference), overnight oats, and more. Starting your day out with protein will help you feel more satiated all day long, which will help curb cravings. Plus, starting the day out with something healthy just sets the tone for the rest of the day.

2. HYDRATE

If you enjoyed adult beverages the night before or plan to have them that day, plan to hydrate more than you typically would. Consuming enough water helps with digestion, sleep, cognition, mood, cravings, and more!

3. Prioritize Sleep

This is especially important if the holidays are a stressful time for you. If you are already feeing stress, it’s crucial to avoid putting your body under more stress by not getting enough sleep. Quality sleep supports recovery, reduces stress, improves mood, supports the immune system, and so much more. Not to mention, a lack of sleep contributes to an increase in hunger and appetite hormones, causing more cravings.

4. Move

Even if you don’t have time to make it into the gym, make it a priority to take a 5 – 10 minute walk after each meal or to hit your step goal; you could also utilize our at-home track to get in a great workout in about 15 – 20 minutes. Staying in a routine, even if it’s a little bit different than the norm, helps to keep you in the habit of exercising. Not to mention the benefits of daily exercise are so vast that it’s worth it to make time for it!

Remember, life is all about balance. The holidays are just a small period of time throughout a long year. So, if you’re not worried about them, then there’s no reason to stress. However, for those of you who may be seeking some extra guidance, these tools can help you feel good, stay on track and bounce right back to a normal routine once the holidays are over.

The most important tips I can give for the holidays: Find ways to mitigate stress, seek moments that feel joyful, take care of yourself, enjoy your time with loved ones, and be present.

If you have any questions or need more one-on-one support, please reach out to me directly.

Happy Holidays!

-Coach Erika Gayman