The Holiday Season is officially here in full force. And we all know what that means -
Parties
Drinking
Presents
Cookies
All of it. We LOVE the holidays - we have two small kids, and as frustrating as children can be, they can also remind you of the joy that there is in the world - so really, the lights are up, the tree is about to be decked and we are baking cookies to decorate on the regular.
The other thing that's SO apparent this time of year is the STRESS. Thats right - in the age of social media, and the elementary school age of children, and all the people around us - there are so many expectations to do it all. The pictures, the decorations, the wrapping - the parties, get togethers, food drives, family gatherings - and that's just the tip of the iceberg. It can be all consuming and so heavy to try and do it all.
In the midst of all that, you also need to take care of yourself, and far too often when we feel the pressures of the outside world, the person that takes the brunt of the destruction is yourself.
You may be so busy taking care of everyone else, that you forget to take care of yourself. Or you feel as though you have to add the bows to the presents and make them look so beautiful that just *can't* find time to go for a walk, or get a quick metcon in to get your blood flowing.
I'm here to tell you a few things.
- You CAN find time to workout. It may not be the hour and half or two hour sweat session you like to work through, but you absolutely can find time in the day to get moving. Stand up between meetings and do some squats and pushups. Commit to walking 10,000 steps a day. Have a super busy day? Pick a few bodyweight exercises and do them between each call. Want to workout but don't think "a short workout is good enough?" IT IS - any workout is better than no workout, especially this time of year. JUST MOVE. You HAVE to make yourself a priority.
- You DON'T need to eat every single cookie you are offered. Hey - I love cookies. My wife loves to bake - she does it NON STOP around the holidays, and when she feels stressed, she bakes even more. Can I eat fourteen different types of cookies without batting an eye? Easily. Will I? No. Maybe I'll have a couple more than I should because, hey, they're good and I want them - but I know that I need to practice moderation otherwise I will feel terrible shortly thereafter.
- YOU DON'T NEED TO BE PERFECT THIS YEAR. No one is. They may show you on social media that everyone is wearing a plaid set of pajamas and snuggling in front of the fireplace to watch Hallmark Christmas movies in a happy go lucky frame of mind but let me assure - its bullshit. Everyone feels the stress, they just may not show you. Social Media isn't real, and if you spend too much time sucked in the perfect world of Instagram, the only thing you're going to do is make yourself feel bad about not doing enough. Put down the phone, and walk away.
- There are things you can do during the holidays to help yourself. Eat before you go to a party, make sure you eat your protein first, don't eat too many fried foods, don't drink too much. Are you going to over do it here and there? Yes - everyone will, its human nature. Does that mean you're destined to life as a messy, unhealthy person? Nah, just recommit and don't blow it.
Listen, its hard. The holidays can be tough for so many different reasons. I know that; you know that - and you know that you can get through it - but you just may need a little bit of help, and that's what we're here for.
I want to help you - it makes me feel better knowing I'm making an impact on someone else's life - so if you don't want to do it for yourself, then do it for me.
