5 Tips to Help You Enjoy Your Holiday Traditions

It’s December and the final holiday festivities of the year are in full swing. It’s the time of year best spent with loved ones, enjoying spending time together. This is also a great time of the year to reflect on how the last year went and to envision how you’d like next year to start.

In my home, it’s a tradition for my daughters to prepare the holiday meals with me in the kitchen. They normally don’t spend much time with me in there so I cherish the times when we work together to prepare traditional holiday meals to enjoy as a family. I love being able to pass down recipes I used to make with my mother and look forward to the time my daughters will cook with their children.

Despite all the seasonal cheer around, the holidays can be a stressful time for some people. All of those wonderful traditional foods often come with lots of calories and you may find yourself getting a bit nervous as you see those huge family meals looming ahead in the next few weeks.

Don’t worry, be happy!

The good news is, you don’t need to be stressed even more about the holidays! Below are 5 tips to help you better manage the chaos around you.

Make a plan. Plan what you’re going to cook, who’s on your holiday shopping list, and make a budget for both. You’ll find thinking ahead will make your life a lot easier as the season progresses.

Take care of yourself. It’s important to make sure everyone is happy, including you! Don’t forget to take time out to make sure you’re not overextending yourself in order to please everyone around you.

Celebrate without food. The holidays aren’t just about food. Celebrate the meaning behind the holidays, whichever that may be for you. And celebrate spending time with people you care about. This may be the only time during the year you see some folks; make the best if it!

Savor what you eat. You can enjoy a little bit of all the delicious treats around you. Choose what you truly enjoy, sit down, and savor each and every bite. Think about not only how it tastes and feels in your mouth, but also the thought and time put into it by whoever prepared it for the celebration.

Forgive and forget. You might not always eat mindfully. You might take an extra helping of Aunt Diane’s cheesecake simply because it’s delicious. Just remember, IT’S OK. No one is perfect! Accept it, move past it, and continue to enjoy the party!

However you spend the holidays, there’s a lot to be happy about. Relish in the holiday spirit and enjoy yourself. Celebrate all of your 2017 accomplishments and get ready to do even more in 2018. Happy holidays!

Your Turn To Take Action: How will you celebrate this year? Click reply and let me know in the comments!