Imagine a season of festivities, fun and HEALTH! Yes, you can have it all! You can enjoy your cake and exercise too, watch all the movies and drink all the water too. A healthy holiday time that’s also a time for self-care! We aren’t saying you have to cut anything out, we are encouraging you to try to add these simple and effective tips in!

Join us in singing this new version of the popular song, 12 Days of Christmas, which is filled with tips to keep you happy, healthy, connected and mindful all the way until the ball drop! See if you can hit all the tips daily! Or start with a couple and add on each day!

Change out the lyrics from, “On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me,” to “The first tip of Health-mas that feels so good to me…”

12 Minutes of Activity – lift some weights, do some stretching or have an all-out dance party.

11 minutes of fresh air. Get outside! Can’t get outside, take some time to look outside! Sit near a window, the sunnier the better!

10 minutes of connecting. Make a call, facetime or write a letter to someone!

9 minutes of “device-free” time when you wake up and before bed.

8 glasses of water or more a day!

7 things you are grateful for. Try to pick 7 new things each day, think about them, write it down, say it out loud.

5 Random acts of kindness (Share them with others or yourself)!

4 Fruits and Veggies a Day!

3 big deep breaths. Anytime you are stressed, overwhelmed, lonely, happy, or grateful. Just breathe!

2 drink limit. Keep alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks in a 24-hour period.

1 Clean mask each day! Wash those masks and keep clean ones handy!

All these 12 Tips of Healthmas can be done in just minutes a day if you choose. That also leaves room to do more or increase as you please. You may find that incorporating these 12 tips also helps keep the holiday blues at bay, because as you develop these new habits there may be some you want to keep going as part of a new healthful and mindful lifestyle. Especially for those who find the days too long this time of year – get creative! Maybe turn some of these into projects! If you are doing the 11 minutes of fresh air, maybe you are working up to a mile a day! If you are using your 9 minutes of device-free time, maybe you are working on a puzzle you want to finish. Maybe your 5 random acts of kindness have turned into crafting! If you are inspired, go with it. Working towards a goal and accomplishing it is refreshing and rewarding to our human spirit.

We think making room for these 12 tips of Healthmas will encourage a healthier, happier and more energized 2021!

From all of us here at The Wellness Center we want to thank you for your support during the past year, wish you all the health in the world and a beautiful and meaningful end to 2020. Take good care and of course enjoy our 12 Tips of Health-mas!

 

Mary Hoadley

Director of The Wellness Center