I hope that you and your family had an amazing Christmas or Hanukkah. Now that the big day is behind us, it’s normal to feel a little letdown or to fall into a slump. It’s also normal to feel exhausted! Personally, I look forward to the few days between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s slower-paced and it gives me a little time to take a breath and spend extra time with my favorite people. I try to not even think about school until next week!
So what can you do to care for yourself during these days after a big holiday?
*Catch up on sleep. I tend to stay up way too late during the few days before Christmas, trying to wrap up all the loose ends and make sure everything gets done. Then I get up early to do the same, to spend time writing, and to prepare breakfast for my family. The days after Christmas are perfect for sleeping a little later or for taking naps during the day. (Going to bed a little earlier is a good option too — I just tend to stay up and watch movies with my family!)
*Speaking of movies — this is a good time to spend a little more time on pure entertainment. Whether it’s Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Go, cable, Hallmark Christmas movies, or going to movies at a theater, it’s a great time to find something to watch and enjoy together!
*Eating habits — I mentioned this before in another post, but think about adding “good stuff” to what you eat during the holidays instead of trying to avoid “bad stuff”. The holidays are a special time and food is a big part of what makes the holidays special. Trying to avoid everything is or deny yourself treats is fighting a losing battle. But — if you think about making sure you are including certain things as “good stuff” every day, it helps you stay on track with a goal of 80% healthy eating and 20% treats.
Here’s my list of what I try to add daily:
*8-10 cups of water
*one salad (or raw vegetables) – I try to get 6-8 servings of vegetables
*one or two pieces of fruit
If you are considering trying a healthier eating plan, you might want to consider intermittent fasting (read my post HERE), Faster Way to Fat Loss, or Weight Watchers!
I am a big fan of intermittent fasting. If you’re considering trying it out, read Gin Stephens’ book Delay, Don’t Deny: Living an Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle.
I love the Faster Way to Fat Loss plan, created by Amanda Tress, and the community support it provides. The simple eating plan and workout variety, combined with carb cycling, intermittent fasting, and coaching groups are all fantastic. This plan works for fat loss, yes, but also for creating a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Amanda’s book is HERE if you want to read more about her plan before joining. If you do sign up, let me know so I can cheer you on!
I have also been seeing some great ads for the new Weight Watchers plan which looks super helpful. I am always a fan of anything that teaches you to eat healthier over the long term for lasting weight loss rather than plans that claim to help you “lose 10 pounds in 3 days”.
*Workouts — in the same spirit of adding something good rather than beating yourself up, here are some options to consider:
*do a shorter version of your regular workout
*try a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout – there are lots of great options on youtube or Pinterest
*taking a long walk outside
*try a new workout on youtube
*use one of the “try it out for free” deals at local gyms or fitness studios
*stream workouts (Physique 57 and Beachbody On Demand are my favorites.
*Easier meal prep – consider easier dinners that can be prepared in advance OR consider eating a variety of appetizers at dinner. The same goes for easier breakfasts.
Here are some of my favorite go-to meals:
Baked ziti for a crowd (Family Savvy is a great blog to follow, by the way!)
Beth’s melt in your mouth BBQ ribs
Chicken parmigiana (Mom 100 is another great blog to follow)
Spaghetti with meat sauce (uses Instant Pot)
Chili (also uses Instant Pot)
Mustard balsamic pork chops
*Go shopping, even if it’s just to browse! This is a great time to stock up on Christmas decor or items you can use next year. Return or exchange gifts that weren’t quite right. Even though it’s a pain, you do get the perk of choosing something you would have chosen for yourself. If you received gift cards as gifts, now is a fun time to use them with so many stores having big after Christmas sales.
*Read! Here are five of my current recommendations:
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Southern Women by the editors of Garden & Gun magazine
American Royals by Katharine McGee
Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Even though I said I would not even think about school until next week, if you’re looking for a good education read, try one of these:
The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of American’s Broken Education System & How to Fix it by Natalie Wexler
Reading Reconsidered: A Practical Guide to Rigorous Literacy Instruction by Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs, & Erica Woolway
Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters by Kylene Beers & Robert Probst
The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects & Grades by Judith C. Hochman & Natalie Wexler
*If the weather is cooperating, spend some time outside. Sunshine and fresh air are the cures for just about everything.
*Make a gratitude list. Make a list on your phone, your computer, or on paper. Just write. List everything that comes to mind. This is a great way to put yourself into a better mood when you stop to consider everything that is great about your life.
*Make a list of your own tips and ideas for next year. List what what went well, list what you want to repeat or continue, list what could be done differently. Make your lists in categories — work or school, home, health, personal, organization, family, friends, church, social organizations, committees.
*Think about setting goals for things you want to do next year.. Instead of thinking in terms of New Year’s Resolutions, just list ideas for what you would like to do or areas on which you would like to focus.
*Start to fill in your planner or calendar for next year! This is one of my favorite things to do at this time of year. There is nothing like the open promise of a new year and a fresh start.
Enjoy these quieter days, get some rest, and take care of yourself!