My Top 3 “Don’t Do’s” This Holiday Season

Last week I shared with you my Merry & Light Holiday Checklist: 11 Must-Do’s For a Healthy & Happy Holiday Season.

Now that you know the 11 “Must-Do’s,” this week I’m sharing My Top 3 “Don’t Do’s.”

I can give you a ton of tips on how to survive the holiday season, but is that REALLY what the holidays are about?

Instead, my hope is to help you look forward to the holidays this year because you have created a plan that makes you “in charge” of your health and self-care this holiday season, as opposed to the holidays being “in charge” of you.

To help you with this, here are My Top 3 “Don’t Do’s” This Holiday Season, with a little bonus “Transformation Tip” after each one:

#3: Make a “Don’t Do List”

Yes, we’ve all heard of a “To-Do List”.

I have one and I’m sure you do too.

However, what I’m suggesting is to create a “Don’t Do List” this holiday season — these are the things that you are committing to not doing during the holidays.

Again, either you choose to be in charge of your health and self-care this holiday season or this holiday season will be in charge of you.

Producing a “Don’t Do” list will help you create priorities around your wants and needs, as opposed to creating resentment.

Transformation Tip:

If you wait too long before creating your “Don’t Do List”, you may find yourself falling into the trap of reacting to requests.

If we don’t have a “Don’t Do” plan, we might find ourselves “reacting” when asked to do something — we’re more likely to say “Yes” without thinking, and oftentimes “reacting” leads to “regretting” because we put too much on our plate or we don’t enjoy what we committed to.

Avoid regret and resentment by creating a “Don’t Do List” and more importantly, sticking to it this holiday season.

Ask a friend to create one too and hold each other accountable to your “lists.”

#2: Don’t Take Yoga for Granted

If you already practice yoga, keep it up, especially during the holidays.

If you used to go to yoga… until you didn’t… go back!

And if you have yet to give yoga a try, the best time to try it is during the holidays.

If you already do some sort of exercise, I suggest adding yoga to your regular exercise routine.

If you can’t fit a yoga class into your schedule, replace one workout session with yoga.

Trust me. It’s that important.

Transformation Tip:

GO to a yoga class rather than doing it by yourself at home. Here are three reasons why:

1. Your teacher is trained to help you with your form (the physical) yes, but also your mindfulness and focus (mental), which is essential during the crazy holidays!
2. Most yoga studios provide a serene and sacred environment, free of the distractions you are likely to encounter at home.
3. Practicing yoga with others helps you feel a sense of community with other like-minded healthy individuals. This will translate into a healthy mindset and feeling of peace long after you leave the class. And who couldn’t use more peace this holiday season?

#1: Don’t Skip Meals or Sleep

Want to stay as stress-free as possible this holiday season?

Make sure you are eating healthy, whole foods on a regular basis (several times throughout the day) and getting to bed at a decent hour (you know when you’re up too late!).

Skipping meals and skimping on sleep is going to play a huge role in your “joy” this holiday season.

When you let either your nutrition and/or your sleep go, expect your metabolism to slow down, your weight to creep up, and your mood to be irritable.

You don’t even want to be around yourself when you feel like this, let alone your family and friends.

What’s more, aim to get at last 7 hours of sleep each night in order to keep your immune system strong, which will help you avoid catching a cold or flu — coughing, sneezing, and losing your taste buds are never fun during the holidays!

Transformation Tip:

Because your normal routine may be off, keep some healthy, portable snacks around to munch on when you’re on the go.

Also, drink plenty of water throughout the day (half of your body weight in ounces, to be exact).

Now that you know my Top 3 “Don’t Do’s” this holiday season, there’s one thing I DO highly recommend you DO… TODAY.

If you haven’t yet, download and print out my Merry & Light Holiday Checklist.

Hang one up at home and at the office.

Give one to a friend and hold each other accountable.

Happy Holidays!