7 Easy Tips for How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays
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Once the kids head back to school, it’s only a matter of time before the holidays are here. As we prepare for another busy holiday season, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure the well-being of your family. You can set you and your family up for a healthy year by following these 7 easy tips for how to stay healthy during the holidays.
Wash Your Hands Often
Whether you’re home for the holidays or traveling afar, washing your hands often is essential to staying healthy. The holidays are all about sharing, but germs don’t need to be included. Often, people are contagious before they even know they are sick. Keeping your hands clean is the best way to be proactive.
According to the CDC, “handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick”. They recommend scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm or cold water. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. But keep in mind, sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs and may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
Keep Your Mental Health in Check
A study from the American Psychological Association found that people in the US are more likely to feel their stress increase rather than decrease during the holidays. Furthermore, holiday stress has a particular impact on women, who take charge of many of the holiday celebrations, like preparing meals and decorating the home.
This means, as moms, we’re incredibly vulnerable to feeling the added stress the holiday season may bring. Follow these tips to help keep your mental health in check this holiday season.
- Stick to a Budget– Before gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Try suggesting a family gift exchange, drawing names, or making homemade gifts to save money.
- Don’t Abandon Healthy Habits– We’re all busy during the holidays and it’s easy to skip out on exercise or become overindulgent on seasonal treats. You shouldn’t stress about a few missed gym visits or eating that delicious sugar cookies your mom makes from scratch. However, try to follow through with your regular healthy habits even during the holidays (such as taking a multivitamin and exercising often).
- Take Social Media with a Grain of Salt- Everyone posts their ‘highlight’ moments on Facebook and Instagram. Keep that in mind when scrolling on your phone this holiday season. If seeing other people’s vacations or toy piles for their kids makes you jealous or upset, try limiting your social media usage. Focus on your own family and the people who have real-life relationships with you.
Eat Well & Contribute a Healthy Dish When Applicable
Holiday foods are delicious but are often low in nutritional value and high in calories. You are what you eat. Ensure your family eats plenty of fruits and veggies. Pack healthy snacks when possible to give them an extra boost.
When bringing a dish to a potluck style gathering, opt for something healthy. Everyone loves to bring cookies, fudge, pie or other sweets, but having a hearty and healthy dish will be more satisfying and help you balance out your diet.
Practice Food Safety
When preparing holiday food, it’s important to keep your family safe from food-related illnesses. Be sure to wash all meal prep surfaces and avoid cross contamination between raw and ready to consume foods. Use a thermometer to ensure food is cooked to the right temperature. In addition, don’t leave out leftovers. It’s important to refrigerate them as soon as possible. If you’re at a holiday party, be sure to keep an eye on the food. If it’s a perishable item that’s been out for more than two hours, avoid eating it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Lastly, many holiday favorites contain raw eggs, including eggnog, tiramisu, and Caesar dressing. Always use pasteurized eggs when making these and other foods made with raw eggs. Avoid eating dough or batter with raw eggs as well.
Take a Daily Multivitamin For Added Nutritional Support
Taking a multivitamin is a great way to easily help fill nutrient gaps year-round, not just during the holidays. I trust Bayer multivitamins for my family to ensure we’re all getting key nutrients we need. I love One A Day® Women’s which is formulated to support bone health, physical energy, heart health, immune health and skin health. Even if you eat well, you might need more of key nutrients: Vitamin A, C, D, & E. One A Day Women’s can help fill this gap, especially during the stressful holiday months.
I love that Bayer has vitamin options for my entire family. My kids’ favorite are the Flintstones™ Complete Chewable Tablets and Flintstones™ Complete Gummies. I remember eating Flintstones vitamins as a kid and as the Pediatrician’s #1 Brand Choice, I’m happy to give them to my girls too. These kid-approved vitamins are free of high fructose corn syrup.
Adding a multivitamin to your family’s wellness routine can help support their health this holiday season. Bayer multivitamins, from Walmart, have a wide variety of products for adults and children, and are a simple addition for adding extra nutrients to your family’s diet.
Get Enough Sleep
According to Sleep.com, the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep a night to feel their best. With extra holiday commitments, late night shopping (or wrapping) and the other burdens of the season, it can be hard to get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can weaken your immunity so be sure to get enough rest. Set a bedtime for yourself and your kids and try to stick to it. Getting extra sleep can help strengthen your immune system, make you less vulnerable to stress and give you more energy. A win-win for any mom!
Just Say No
If you’re anything like me, you probably find yourself overdoing it during the holiday season. I struggle with saying no. Choose a few special holiday activities (Christmas shopping, a holiday party, writing Christmas cards, etc) each week and say “no” to the rest. I love the holidays and really try to create a memorable experience for my girls each year. But for my own sanity, saying no to some of the things, helps me embrace my time with them and say YES to the activities I know they’ll truly love.
Ultimately, feelings of resentment and being overwhelmed can stem from saying yes when you should say no. You simply can’t do it all, and you’re not expected to, even when you’re a Super-Mom. Don’t hesitate to say no to save your peace of mind.
One of the things I have started saying no to more often is last minute grocery runs. Trips to the grocery store with two little kids can be so stressful! I love Walmart’s Online Grocery Pickup & Delivery services which makes it so easy to grab what I need and go (without ever leaving my car) or have it delivered straight to my door.
Holiday Healthy Tips for Your Family
In conclusion, I hope these tips are helpful in keeping your family healthy this holiday season. The holidays can be stressful but keeping your family happy and healthy doesn’t have to be. As a great addition to your year-round wellness routine, be sure to look for Bayer multivitamin options for your family. Available at Walmart, located in the vitamin aisle, and also through Walmart’s Online Grocery Pickup & Delivery services.
7 Easy Tips for How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays
