The holiday season has a funny way of making us think our normal routines have to go on vacation, too.

Your calendar starts filling up with parties, shopping, family gatherings, school events, travel, and all the extra things that seem to pop up this time of year. Suddenly, finding time to work out feels impossible, meal planning goes out the window, and those healthy habits you've spent months building start taking a backseat.

And before you know it, you're telling yourself, "I'll just get back on track in January."

Sound familiar?

But what if you didn't have to start over in January? What if, instead of putting your health on hold for two months, you simply adjusted your expectations and found ways to keep taking care of yourself?

That's exactly why I'm bringing back The Holiday Sanity Series this month. 

I shared a similar series last year, but these are conversations worth having more than once. The holiday season can be challenging when you're trying to balance your health, family, work, and all the extra commitments that seem to pop up this time of year. So this year, I'm revisiting some of those same important topics, but with even more real life situations and practical examples of how to handle them.

Over the next four weeks, we'll talk about realistic ways to take care of yourself physically and mentally while still enjoying everything this season has to offer.

Because you don't have to choose between enjoying the holidays and prioritizing your health. You can do both!

You Don't Need to Be Perfect for Two Months

First, I let’s start with a little perspective. 

The holiday season can feel like one long stretch of celebrations, indulgent meals, and disrupted routines. But when you really look at your calendar, how many days are actually out of the ordinary?

Maybe you have a couple Thanksgiving dinners, a couple holiday parties, and Christmas celebrations. Those are the days that might look a little different from your normal routine.

But what about all the other days?

If we're looking at roughly two months of the holiday season, that's about 60 days. Even if five of those days are particularly challenging, you still have 55 other days to make choices that support your health.

Five days don't determine your success. The other 55 matter, too.

And that rule appeals even if it’s 10 days. 

You don't need to be perfect on Thanksgiving, at the office holiday party, or during your family celebrations. But you also don't need to turn every day between Thanksgiving and New Year's into an extended holiday.

The goal is to enjoy the special occasions without letting them dictate your habits for the entire season.

4 Ways to Keep Taking Care of Yourself When Life Gets Busy

You don't need an elaborate plan or a complete overhaul of your routine. In fact, the simpler you make things, the more likely you are to stick with them.

Here are four ways to keep yourself grounded when your schedule starts getting hectic.

1. Look at Your Calendar Before Your Week Gets Away From You

One of the biggest mistakes people make during the holidays is waiting until they have free time to fit in healthy habits.

The problem? Free time is going to rarely show up even in a slower time of year. 

Instead, look at your calendar at the beginning of each week. If you have a holiday party Wednesday night, a school event Thursday, and shopping planned Saturday, figure out where movement, meal preparation, and downtime can realistically fit.

For example, maybe your normal workout schedule is four days a week. This particular week, three workouts might be more realistic. That's okay!

Maybe you know Tuesday and Friday are your busiest days, so you plan a shorter workout or a walk first thing in the morning instead. 

The point isn't to schedule every minute of your life. It's to be intentional about the things that matter to you before everything else takes priority.

2. Stop Making Every Meal an Occasion

Holiday celebrations often revolve around food, and that's part of what makes this time of year special.

But not every meal between Thanksgiving and New Year's needs to be a holiday meal.

If you have a holiday dinner Saturday night, enjoy it! But that doesn't mean Friday night needs to turn into another celebration simply because it's the weekend.

Keep your normal meals simple and balanced. Include protein, fruits and vegetables, and foods that help you feel satisfied.

A few examples:

• Keep your usual protein packed breakfast instead of skipping it to save room for later.
• Have a balanced lunch before heading to an evening holiday party.
• Keep easy meal prep options in the refrigerator so you're not relying on takeout every time your schedule gets busy.
• Don't let a plate of holiday cookies at work replace an actual lunch.

You don't need to eat perfectly. You just need to remember that your everyday meals still matter, even when there are special occasions sprinkled throughout the week. 

If you want specific ideas, scroll to the bottom of this blog and put “meals” into the search bar. You will pull up tons of healthy options! 

3. Give Yourself Permission to Do Less

This is a big one, especially when it comes to exercise.

If you're used to working out for 45-60 minutes, you might feel like a 15 minute workout isn't worth your time.

But it is!

Maybe you don't have time for your normal strength workout. Do a shorter version. Maybe you can't get to the gym. Work out at home. Maybe you need an extra rest day because you've had a particularly exhausting week.

All of those are perfectly reasonable adjustments.

I'd much rather see you maintain a flexible movement routine throughout the holidays than abandon it completely because you can't follow your usual schedule.

Again, if you need help, use the search function on this website for options. Most of my workouts are super short but still effective! 

4. Protect Your Downtime, Too

We talk a lot about making time for exercise and healthy eating, but mental health deserves just as much attention.

The holidays can bring additional responsibilities, family expectations, financial pressures, and social commitments. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is say no.

You don't have to attend every gathering. You don't have to volunteer for every extra responsibility. And you certainly don't have to sacrifice your sleep to squeeze one more thing into your schedule.

Maybe that means skipping an evening event because you have an early morning. Maybe it means ordering something instead of cooking an elaborate meal. Maybe it means spending a quiet evening at home rather than filling every weekend with activities.

Taking care of yourself also means recognizing when you need a break.

Don't Let One Unplanned Day Turn Into an Unplanned Month

Here's something I want you to remember: one day of less than ideal choices doesn't require a reset.

You missed your workout? Move on.

You ate more than you intended at dinner? Move on.

You ordered takeout instead of cooking? Move on.

You don't need to compensate, restrict, or wait until Monday to get back to your normal routine.

The sooner you let go of the all or nothing mentality, the easier it becomes to maintain healthy habits throughout the year.

Your health isn't determined by one meal, one workout, or one holiday weekend. It's influenced by the choices you make the majority of the time. 

Let's Make This Holiday Season a Little Easier

This year, I want you to enjoy the holidays without feeling like you have to put yourself last.

You can enjoy the parties, the food, the traditions, and the time with family and friends while still making choices that support your physical and mental health.

You might work out a little less. You might eat out a little more. Your schedule might look completely different from what it does the rest of the year.

That's life!

The goal shouldn’t be to maintain a picture perfect routine. It's to build habits flexible enough to fit into your real life, including the busy, unpredictable, and sometimes chaotic parts.

And remember, January doesn't have to be the month you start taking care of yourself again. You can keep doing that right now.

Stay Healthy (and Sane!) With Me All Season

This is the first post in The Holiday Sanity Series, where I'll be sharing practical, realistic ways to stay physically and mentally healthy throughout the holiday season.

Over the next few weeks, we'll talk about adjusting your workouts, navigating holiday eating without guilt, and enjoying Thanksgiving without getting stuck in a refrigerator full of leftovers.

Want a little extra support along the way?

Sign up for Healthy Hacks for the Holidays, my daily email series filled with simple tips, motivation, and realistic strategies to help you feel your best through the end of the year.

Sign up for Healthy Hacks for the Holidays here!

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