I love this time of year…all the hustle and bustle, the gorgeous decorations, the plethora of Christmas parties, the baking, the Christmas musicals, the shopping, the gift giving, and family gatherings and the music…oh how I love the music!
What I don't love so much is all the illness and injuries that seem so prevalent this time of year! Freezing cold weather and ice covered roads and sidewalks tend to put a damper on the season's merriment!
Here are a seven tips for keeping your family well this holiday season!
1. Schedule down time!
If you're family is anything like mine, this may be easier said than done. Both of my girls are involved in basketball (one JH, one Varsity) so we have lots of games and practices. Also, our whole family is performing in Clara and the Nutcracker Prince and on top of 7 performances, we have had countless rehearsals. As a family, we try to take advantage of any free nights or weekend days and schedule them…at home! This time can be used for catching up on cleaning, doing your holiday baking, or watching a movie as a family, or just going to bed early! Everyone needs a break and during this season you may just need to schedule one!
2. Create an oasis at home!
This time of year can be extremely stressful. It's nice to have a place where you feel relaxed. Play soft Christmas music in the background, light a candle (or use a scentsy plugin candle warmer…that's what we're doing and our house smells like Christmas), and make sure you have everything you need for a cup of hot chocolate or tea! There's something wonderful about being able to relax after a long day with soft music playing and a steaming cup of hot chocolate in your hands!
3. Wash your hands…regularly and often!
It's so easy to pass around germs at this time of year. Hand washing is a great way of combatting all these germs! If you want a little extra incentive to wash your hands, pick up a special hand soap and lotion! There's nothing like washing your hands in a delicious smelling soap and then adding some luxurious lotion to them when you're finished! Make this a relaxing ritual rather than a dreaded chore.
4. Make exercise a priority!
Exercise is not only great for the body, but it's also great for combatting stress! You don't have to head to the gym, you can do videos at home (I highly recommend Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred). Most people pack on the pounds during the holidays which only leads to more stress when your clothes don't fit right! Try to squeeze in at least 30 minutes a day and if you know you're going to be indulging (or overindulging) shoot for an hour!
5. Wear sensible shoes!
Open toed high heeled shoes may look great, but there is nothing sensible about them when it's 12 degrees outside and the ground is covered in a foot of snow! I highly recommend boots for this time of year! I have 2 pairs of boots I live in during this time of year…a pair of Lodge boots from Earth Footwear (These were a splurge 2 years ago and they've been so worth the money!!!) and a pair of Nadia Boots from Crocs. Both pairs of boots provide me with the traction I need on slippery days and they keep my feet dry and warm! For Christmas this year, the top thing on my list is more boots. I've asked for 3 pairs by Earth Footwear. I've been a good girls so hopefully Santa will bring me at least one! 🙂
6. Dress like it's winter!!!
If you live somewhere cold, dress like it's winter! Wear a coat, wear a hat, and put on some gloves! It's not worth it to try to prove to the world just how tough you are…chances are you'll just end up getting sick!
7. Make a holiday budget!
Stress can compromise your immune system and let's be honest, there's not much more stressful than money woes! Figure out how much you can afford to spend on gifts and holiday entertaining and then stick to your budget! There are plenty of frugal gifts you can give and homemade gifts are always a treasure! If you're stressing about your finances this Christmas, I encourage your to read this post on Finding Hope in A Season of Spending!
I hope you all have a wonderfully happy, healthy holiday season!
Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Bookieboo and Earth Footwear “All's Well That Ends Well” blogging program, making me eligible to win a pair of Earth Footwear boots. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
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