Lesson #2 of 3 Healthy Lessons for the Holidays

Here’s Lesson #2 of my “3 Healthy Lessons for the Holidays” based on the takeaways my Merry & Light Holiday challengers are having.

If you missed Lesson 1, you can find it HERE. If so, they’re not in order, so feel free to read today’s lesson and then go back to Lesson #1 right after.

LESSON #2: Find a way

Even in Southern California, we’re starting to feel the chilly weather. Okay, for all of you North, West, and East of us, I see you rolling your eyes. Understandably so and I know you consider us wimpy and I’m not denying that. I’m one who prefers shorts over pants. But nevertheless, most of us are cold. And if we’re cold, I know you’re cold.

Besides the dip in weather, another thing we’re all dealing with is the time change. This season, the time change has hit my clients hard. Honestly, me too. I don’t like the short winters nearly as much as I love the long summers.

When it starts getting dark at 5pm, it’s hard to want to do anything else besides “settle in for the night”.

For those who like to exercise outside and do it after work, it makes it hard to do, not only for weather reasons, but also for safety reasons.

One of my Merry & Light Holiday Challengers had this dilemma. For the past several months, she has been on a roll with her habit of walking in the evening. But when the time change and cold weather hit, all she wanted to do was stay comfy and cozy in her warm home.

I encourage my clients often by using one of my favorite quotes (which is also helpful when you’re on a trip or vacation): “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

That’s what this particular challenger did. She “found a way”. She transferred her daughter’s gym membership over to her name (her daughter is currently out of the state in college). The gym membership was being paid for already, but no one was using it.

Even though she hasn’t stepped foot in a gym in a very long time, she felt uncomfortable and uncertain. But again, she “found a way” because her healthy goals are that important to her.

Another challenger expressed that what she finds hard about the short days is snacking in the evenings after she already had dinner.

She, too, “found a way”. She decided to brush her teeth after dinner so that she wouldn’t be tempted to want to eat again.

Like I said, we’re all dealing with the colder temperatures and shorter days. If you also find this time of year challenging to stay on track with your healthy goals, how can you “find a way”?

Be on the lookout! Healthy Holiday Lesson #3 is coming your way soon…

Wishing you a merry & light holiday season,

Kim