Surviving winter break, your family and those damn fruitcakes

Okay, so be honest with me.

Are you looking forward to the winter holidays?

Let’s see, there is shopping, eating, decorating, eating, Christmas gatherings, eating, crowded streets and shopping malls, eating, end-of-year projects, eating, bills, eating, family, and EATING!

Let’s face it, winter break can be brutal if you don’t know how to approach it in a way that keeps you healthy and sane.

You need a plan.

You can’t run away or pretend vacations don’t exist. I’ve seen Christmas decorations since before Halloween.

Then what do you do?

Here are my top tips for getting through the holiday season while staying healthy, happy, and sane!

1. Create a plan of attack. This applies to gift-giving and holiday entertainment, as well as your own personal needs, such as fresh air and exercise.
2. Carry on with your normal routines as much as possible. If you can go to bed at the same time, perfect!
3. Don’t neglect yourself! Self-care should be a priority. Showers, adequate sleep and quiet time just for you, you are not selfish.
4. Exercise! Take a walk if you can’t get to the gym. But if you can get away from home, then time at the gym will be a better way to relax and rejuvenate yourself.
5. Do not eat anything or everything that crosses your path. Don’t be afraid to say NO!
6. Holiday cocktails can be tempting and also loaded with calories. If you choose to indulge, plan to drink more water before, during, and after.
7. If you know you’re headed into a stressful situation, bring a friend. Give yourself a way out if you need one, but still find a way to be polite before you run away.
8. Eat before you arrive at a party if you are worried about overeating. Choose what you really want and then walk away.
9. Limit gifts if you or your budget decide it’s necessary. Don’t feel bad, there is life after the holidays.
10. If you need some quiet time to yourself, take it. You don’t always have to be a social butterfly.
11. If you don’t want to be the butt of jokes or have nasty images floating around the web, don’t put yourself in that position. If you’re not proud of it, don’t do it.
12. Have fun above all! The holidays come only once a year, so celebrate it.
13. Spend time with your family for as long as you can tolerate. Appreciate the time you spend with them, but politely apologize if you no longer feel comfortable.
14. Use the golden rule. Do to others what you would like them to do to you. This applies to anything, everything and everywhere.
15. Approach every situation, every person from a point of view of gratitude. You are living, breathing and entering a magical time of year. Vacation or not, there really is a lot to be thankful for.