It can be difficult to prioritize physical and mental fitness during the best of times, but this goal becomes especially challenging during the holidays. Even though you may be curtailing your holiday travel due to coronavirus infection rates in your area, you’re likely still going to carry out some normal holiday traditions. Even if you have to talk to your family over Zoom.
Here’s how to keep your body and mind healthy during this trying time. Whether we’re talking about fattening foods, lazy days off of work, or the loneliness and boredom that results from extended quarantining, here are the best ways to stay healthy through the new year.
For Mental Fitness
COVID-19 has been hard on all of us. If you’ve been quarantining as recommended, you’ve likely seen your social life slow to a crawl, and you probably miss those closest to you, especially as the holidays draw close. On the other hand, if you’re in a situation where you are able to see your family, you have to contend with the stresses that holiday visits bring with them in normal times. In either case, it’s important to see to it that you’re sleeping well, staying active, and maintaining healthy relationships.
For sleep, make sure to keep a steady bedtime, even if you have days off of work or are traveling. Calm CP from Neuroscience can help you relax naturally during the day, so it’s easier to drop off to sleep at night. Furthermore, keeping a regular bedtime, even when you don’t have to wake up for work in the morning, will keep your body in a healthy cycle of waking and sleeping hours that fit your natural circadian rhythm. This can help to prevent some of the stress that occurs when getting off this schedule.
For relationships, it’s important to communicate clearly and not over-commit, especially when spending time with people you don’t see on a regular basis. This can be one of the most challenging aspects of going home for Christmas, for example. Even if these visits are confined to the Zoom screen this year, make sure to focus on quality time with those you love, without over-committing to time and traditions that may be emotionally overtaxing. Figure out a togetherness schedule that is generous for those you love, but nonetheless works for the energy you have. It’s a unique time in many of our lives – we’re all just doing the best we can!
For Physical Fitness
As for physical fitness and staying active, it’s never a good idea to completely slack off during the holidays.
Falling into bad habits can lead to a situation where you end up feeling depressed. Instead of lazing around, take time for long walks while the sun is still out, practice simple floor exercises like pushups and squats, and find any excuse to get off the couch. Staying active obviously has physical benefits, but it’s also the basis of sound mental health. Many of us feel down and out during the holidays simply because we spend so much time indoors and out of the sunshine. Try to get 30 minutes of exercise each day, preferably outdoors if weather permits, and you’ll find your physical and emotional lives thriving well through the holidays.
If you need a little extra help to prevent physical and mental stress, we can recommend a couple of specific supplements that you can order before the holiday rush begins in earnest. Pregnenolone Drops from BioMatrix, or Super Adrenal Stress Formula from Doctor Wilson may align best with your individual needs!
These supplements can be part of your secret stash to help maintain a healthy mood during the holiday by both providing subtle and natural support for your body and mind. You may not be able to control what challenges this season brings your way, but you can control the way you respond to them.
