10 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season

The holiday season is full of great food, friends and family, and precious memories. However, they're not always ideal for living a healthy lifestyle. During the holiday season, it's too simple to become lax on exercise and healthy eating that we usually maintain throughout the year.

When you combine the festive parties and gatherings with the stress of the holidays, it can take a toll on your mental and physical well-being starting from November through the New Year. But, it doesn't need to be like this. Fortunately, we've rounded up advice from around the web to bring you 10 ways to have a healthy holiday season.

1. Change Up Your Exercise

EatingWell recommends changing up your exercise routine. If you already have a tedious or laborious exercise routine, it's likely you won't become overly excited about exercising when you're feeling overworked, tired, or bored.

So, rather than sticking to a routine session at the gym, or the same 30-minute morning jog, try and find new ways of branching out, so that exercising will become fun for you.

You could try an online video or new workout class. Ask a family member or friend to join you. Plan out a family activity like taking a hike, ice skating, or maybe even engaging in a scavenger hunt. Locate an indoor swimming or climbing facility that provides holiday-friendly hours. You can even keep your body moving by digging out, and putting up holiday decorations at your home, or volunteering to hang up holiday lights outside your home.

2. Eat Healthy

The holiday season is here, and this is the time where many individuals relax, eat a lot of delicious food, and have fun with their friends and family. From turkey and stuffing to holiday cookies, cake, and other sweet treats, it's too simple to put your healthy eating habits to one side to indulge a bit in the holiday season.

But, with some preparation and planning, it's simple to stay on track, so you're not feeling so guilty when the holiday season is over. Here are some suggestions from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

• Make a plan. If you're already aware of a get-together or party you'll be attending where there will be a lot of food, don't show up hungry. Be proactive, and have a light snack of vegetables, fruits, or low-fat cheese before you get there.

• Come up with a one-trip food line rule. Establish a rule where you and your kids are only allowed to make a single trip through the food line. Make it so your children have to ask your permission before they get back into the line.

• Place fruits, vegetables and salad on your plate first before you dive into the entrees and dessert. Have your kids do the same. Your rounded palm equals about a half cup, and is a good portion size for many foods.

Any time you consume more treats and sugar, you're out of your normal rhythm. Too many sweet treats and overeating during the holidays can also alter children's sleep, and when they're not sleeping well, it can impact their behavior and mood. To avoid this, you can:

• Make sure your kids consume their last snack or sweet treat a minimum of an hour before they go to bed
• Plan accordingly and allow your kids to take an extra nap if necessary in the afternoon
• Make sure your kids consume at least one regular meal during the day

3. Buckle Up

The CDC recommends you fasten your seat belts when riding or driving in any motor vehicle. Make sure your kids are always buckled up in the vehicle using a:

• Booster seat
• Child safety seat
• Seat belt according to their weight, height, and age

Always buckle your seat belt regardless of how short your trip is, and ensure your passengers do as well.

Individuals who don't wear their seat belt have a higher risk of being ejected from the vehicle during an accident. In fact, they're 30 times more likely. More than three out of four individuals who do get ejected from a vehicle during a crash die from their injuries. Each year, seat belts save thousands of lives, and thousands more could be saved, too, by increasing seat belt use.

4. Fend off Germs

Travel stops and airports, family gatherings, and shopping malls are all places where germs accumulate, according to TeensHealth. So, you'll want to ensure you're protected by washing your hands constantly, and getting a flu vaccine. While holidays are a time for sharing, there are certain things you don't want to share, such as forks, spoons, cups, and glasses.

Individuals can be contagious even before they start feeling symptoms of being sick, and all it takes is a single sip from another person's drink to put germs into your body.

5. Limit Alcohol

USA today suggests moderating your alcohol consumption.  It's empty calories. It's also an appetite stimulant, which makes it more likely that you'll eat more than normal or eat things you normally wouldn't because you have lowered inhibitions. If you do plan on drinking, you'll want to eat something first so you'll have something in your stomach that acts like a buffer. Nuts or almonds are a good choice. And, to slow your pace, drink a glass of water in between your drinks.

6. Add Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Pinnacle Health says to add more omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. These are a type of healthy fat. They're found naturally in various types of food like:

• Plant seeds
• Fish
• Nuts

They're ideal for reducing stiffness and joint pain because they work like a natural anti-inflammatory. Research shows omega 3 fatty acids help lower depression levels, which individuals often experience during the shorter winter days.

7. Stay Hydrated

When traveling for the holidays by plane, keep in mind at high altitudes, low humidity makes the air in the cabin of the plane dry. Your airways are more susceptible to bacteria and viruses, too, according to information provided by Lutherville Personal Physicians primary care physician, Marc Leavey, MD that was published by Explore Health.

When you stay well-hydrated, it keeps your mucous membranes moist, and keeps the bugs that cause colds and flu out of your system. Drink eight ounces of water for each hour you're up in the air. Bring your wipes because you'll likely be using the bathroom more.

8. Stick to Your Schedule

According to MaineHealth, celebrating the holidays makes it too simple to go into "vacation mode." While it's the perfect time for activities and treats, it's helpful to have some type of constant reminder that you're actually not on a vacation, and you should stick with your normal schedule.

9. Staying Mentally Healthy

If you become stressed during the holidays, you're not alone. The holidays are a very chaotic time for many individuals. While you can't stop the holidays from coming, there are some strategies that can help keep you calm, according to PsychCentral during this stressful time of year:

• Allow yourself to let some things go
• Recognize that the individuals in your life are who they are
• Take care of yourself
• Be grateful
• Reach out
• Take time each day to enjoy something the season brings
• Stick to your budget

The holiday season might be hectic, but it doesn't have to make you go crazy. There are ways to bring joy in your world, and bring your stress level down.

10. Getting Enough Quality Sleep

Make sleeping your main priority, particularly on the night before you're traveling for the holiday. Prepare and do your packing early the day before, so you can leave the night before for quality sleep. Otherwise, you risk feeling sluggish at the airport with a headache from fatigue or driving drowsy.

U.S. News reports, there is research that shows skipping even a few sleep hours could make you more vulnerable to catching a cold the following day. It could also make you less of an alert driver. So, you'll want to strive for a minimum of six hours of sleep before you take a long road trip. If that's not possible, be sure to have a designated driver with you to help with the driving.

If you're flying, bring along a blanket and eye mask, and make use of the in-flight pillow. Even better, you can try a CBD pillow that will help you relax, and maybe even get some sleep while you're on the plane.

Purchase a CBD Pillow for Your Much Needed Holiday Sleep

CBD-infused pillows utilize microencapsulation technology. They're infused with microcapsules filled with around 150mg of CBD, which are bonded to the outside of the pillow's fabric. The capsules burst while you're using the pillow because it's pressure sensitive. This releases the CBD, which is absorbed through your hair follicles and skin throughout the nighttime while you're sleeping, just like with a topical. So, you're getting microdoses of CBD over an extended time period.

For instance, if you were to take a CBD gummy prior to hitting the hay as part of a regular routine, the gummy will begin to wear off after two to three hours. But, with the microdosing of CBD with the CBD pillows, it helps sustain the effects of your regular routine because it lasts a whole lot longer during the night.

Also, you're getting an amazingly comfortable pillow with a gel memory foam core for keeping you cool, and an adjustable thickness and firmness, allowing you to fully customize your pillow to meet your exact needs. Our CBD pillows here at CBDPillow.com come with a 30-day money back guarantee, and a 10-year warranty. Order yourself a pillow today, so you can enjoy it throughout the stressful holiday season!