North Dallas Chiropractic Blog – All Injury Rehab

10 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

We all understand the importance of trying to maintain a healthy balance in our lives. The holidays, however, can put our best stress-busters to the test. Make sure to keep your holidays happy and healthy by following our ’10 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season’!

1. Remember the Good-Ol’ Days – Use this time to reminisce about what you enjoyed during previous holidays and focus your attention on capturing the joy of holidays past.

2. Plan for Pleasure – Start with the date of your special event and work backwards through the calendar to organize your days and ensure every item receives attention.

3. Let Others Help – When making your list, check it twice for activities and items you can delegate to someone else. If they’re too busy and you don’t have enough time to complete it, consider dropping the action-item altogether.

4. Set a Budget – Just be sure to stick to it! Otherwise you will have defeated the purpose of creating the budget in the first place and can leave yourself open to feeling disappointed in your efforts.

5. Let Go of Perfection – Be realistic in the expectations of yourself and others. Only Norman Rockwell can fully capture the essence of his holiday season. Find enjoyment in the unique aspects of your family and friends.

6. Be True to You – You are in charge of your happiness. Only you can decide what you will and will not tolerate. Just like with the budget, set your boundaries and stick to them.

7. Treat Yourself Well – Try to schedule at least 12 minutes a day to be nice to you. Use this time to recharge and relax.

8. Reach Out – Holidays can be emotionally charged. Seek support from others who aren’t emotionally invested in your family dynamic. Phone a friend whom you know is ‘pro-you’ and talk to them. You’ll feel recharged again!

9. Reach Out Further – Volunteering at a local homeless shelter, or picking presents for a family in need are just a couple of ways to give so that it brings joy, not obligation. Tending to those less fortunate than you can also help you appreciate what you have a little more.

10. Maintain Your Momentum – ‘Throwing in the towel’ before the turkey is even in the oven can weigh you down. You can easily maximize your merriment by sticking to your year-round exercise and healthy-eating program.

This list of tips is just a sampling of suggestions to help keep your holiday season as stress-free as possible. ‘Tis the season to find pleasure and make memories. Choose what works for you and rejoice in the smallest of progress made.

The new year only offers opportunity. It’s our attitude and our actions that bring to fruition that which manifests as results.

From our Rehab family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

We all do it around the Holidays, extra eating. For many of us, we eat foods that we are not used to eating at all, you know, the really unhealthy stuff. Here’s an article to help curb those extra pounds.

To Your Health
December, 2010 (Vol. 04, Issue 12)

Healthy Holidays
By Editorial Staff

Five pounds, 10 pounds, 15 pounds or even more: How much weight do you gain in an average holiday season? This year, buck the trend with some simple planning. Take these six suggestions to heart and enjoy the holiday season the healthy way.
1. Family Fitness

What better way to counterbalance the extra calories you’re sure to consume this holiday season than with some calorie-burning, cardio-benefiting exercise that involves the entire family? Reminiscing with relatives is great, but why not bond with them and stay in shape at the same time with a game of touch football, a snowball fight or even a long walk around the neighborhood?

2. Portion Control

We’re not saying you can’t sample the vast array of cakes, pies and other holiday treats heaped on the table; we’re just saying don’t overdo it. Portion control is important all year, but it’s vital when faced with a daunting supply of high-carb and even higher-sugar foods. So indulge a little and feel good that you’ve indulged; but don’t overeat and end up spending the holidays immobile.

3. Holiday Helper

Whether you’re at home or away for the holidays, taking an active role in holiday preparation can be better than a trip to the gym; getting the house in order, preparing the food and cleaning up (hopefully with some help) afterward will burn plenty of calories. And remember, you can prepare your own entree or side dish and ensure you have at least one healthy item to eat.

4. Bring It Along

You’re a thousand miles from home at your parents’ house, nowhere from your favorite gym or your favorite healthy foods. Fortunately, you remembered to pack a few essentials, like whole-grain energy bars, protein powder and a pair of exercise bands. Mix in a little exercise and nutritious food with the “bad” stuff and you’ll feel better about life away from your healthy comfort zone.

5. Safety in Numbers

Keep in mind that when faced with the holiday season, you don’t have to face it alone. Whether it’s splitting up the holiday shopping with your spouse, recruiting a few family members to help cook a (semi) healthy holiday meal, or making a pact with your best friend to stick with your exercise program during the hustle and bustle, do it together and you’ll be more likely to get it done.

6. Enjoy Yourself

This is the holiday season; don’t turn it into an agonizing, moment-by-moment game of “Should I eat this?” and “When can I get away to the gym?” Remember, good health is about minimizing stress as much as it’s about eating right and staying physically active. So enjoy the time away from work and with loved ones, even if it comes with a (little) more food and a (little) less exercise. You deserve it.

Visit us at All Injury Rehab for more information and to set up an appointment.