Don't Lose It (Or Yourself) This Holiday Season with These Great Tips!

Happy Thanksgiving, lovelies!

I cannot BELIEVE that it's that time of the year already. Appropriately, I feel behind the eight ball, but I've vowed to really take the time to enjoy the holiday season this year. I have the skills to manage my stress, so all I can hope for is that I employ all the strategies to ward off any unwelcome anxiety.

What are your tips for keeping it together during the holidays?

Here's my list of tried-and-true strategies to stay sane from Thanksgiving through the New Year. This time of year, above all others, is a time when marketers cash in on their ability to take advantage of our deep desire to be the best--the best gift-giver/baker/chef/party planner/harnesser of willpower, etc.--and it's easy to lose track of ourselves in the frantic rush that is the holiday season. However, it's in our best interests, if we want to stay present and truly enjoy the beautiful things about the season, to take good care of ourselves and not just our loved ones (because, let's admit it: as women, our default is the care-giver role!).

1) Indulge (in moderation) and with a plan: I can't emphasize this enough. If I had a dollar for every time I just winged it (a little turkey day humor) and approached holiday eating with an all-out attitude (heck, it's only once a year!), I'd be rich.

Now, being older and hopefully wiser, I approach holiday eating with a plan. There's no way I'm going to forego my homemade favorites, but I also realize that moderation must temper my choices because I know how I'll feel afterwards if I let it be a free-for-all. To be blunt, I prefer the only thing at my Thanksgiving festivities to be stuffed is the bird on the table, not the people around it!

When it comes to the meal, I really try not to overthink it. Beforehand, I think about my absolute non-negotiables, i.e. what I really want to eat and really enjoy. For me, that's stuffing, crispy turkey skin, pumpkin and mini-mincemeat pies. Because these happen to be calorically-dense, I'll fill my plate with protein and veggies, leaving a little space for my indulgences. This way, I get to sample everything that I want, and I don't feel guilty. And if I want to have a little vino, I'll scale back a little on the carbs, i.e. less stuffing, more brussel sprouts. Everything remains in balance, including my mental state. And that's priceless.

2) Stay active: This really goes for the entire holiday season, but I find that taking in a sweat session before a busy day of cooking/hosting/party-attending really takes the edge off of cravings and puts me in the proper head space to make healthier choices when it comes to food and drink. I recommend following my girl Neghar Fonooni on YouTube because she posts some awesome metabolic resistance workouts that get you sweaty in a minimum amount of time: great for those days during the holidays when we all feel super rushed. Her Kettlbell Quickies are genius, too. (While you're at it, why not pick up her amazing Lean & Lovely Training Program? I can't recommend it enough, nor can I more highly recommend the lovely Jen Sinker's Lift Weights Faster conditioning program. Check them out here and here).

3) Set aside time for yourself: For heaven's sake, take a break already! Read a novel, write in your journal, take a walk around the block, call a friend, grab a coffee, do SOMETHING! You should not wake up on January 1st, dazed and confused, feeling like tightly-wadded ball of stress. Give yourself a break. Even if you can only spare 15 minutes a day and that means waking up a little earlier in the a.m. DO IT. You won't regret it!

4) Limit social media time, but put no cap on real face time: It's really no wonder that studies have shown that the time people spend on social media is directly proportional the levels of anxiety they report feeling (http://www.columbiachronicle.com/health_and_tech/article_aa2daa9a-d7e4-11e3-9286-001a4bcf6878.html). The more time you spend on social media, the less time you have to spend with friends and family having real, live ADVENTURES. Yeah, I said it; just being with people who you love and who love you is an adventure. Log off, and go live a little :-)

5) Read A Christmas Carol: Seriously, just do it. You can read it in one sitting, and the good that it will do your soul cannot be quantified. This story never fails to put me in the holiday spirit.

6) Dress up: I saw this hilarious segment on The Doctors yesterday reporting that a good way to avoid overindulging at parties is to carry a clutch and wear bright, pretty lipstick. The rationale is that if you're wearing a clutch, one hand is always preoccupied so there's one less with which to grasp food and/or booze. If you're wearing pretty lipstick, you'll feel prettier (?) and less desirous of anything that will rub it off. I'm not convinced of this theory, but I can speak from experience that I feel less likely to overindulge if I feel confident and sexy in my outfit. So go ahead and wear the hell out of your clothes. Your waistline will thank you ;-)

7) Practice gratitude: Lastly, but certainly not leastly, be gracious. Give thanks. Tell people how much you appreciate them and make a kind gesture to show it. It doesn't take a lot of effort, and the rewards are bountiful. I do my best to keep a gratitude journal and write in it several times a week, if not everyday (another happiness-cultivating technique from the dear Neghar Fonooni). It helps me embrace the here-and-now, stay present, and enjoy the journey that is life. It sounds cheesy, but gratitude begets happiness, #itsscience :-)

Again, Happy, Happy Thanksgiving dears and enjoy the heck out of your day(s)! Love and APPRECIATE you all!