3 steps to reach the top and stay in great shape during the holidays.
It’s officially November and now begins the obstacle course of holidays, parties, family, shopping, too much alcohol and way too much food! Our health always seems to take a back seat during the “giving” season. This year, it’s time to give to yourself before you start giving to others. Here are the 3 steps to keep your mind and body in tip top shape even when the masses are practicing their gluttonous ways.
First, make sure your commitment to your health and well being is strong. I know that some of those gingerbread cookies are irresistible, but you have to have diamond drill focus. Imagine for a moment, the laser focus you would have if you used a diamond drill. You can’t let up! Think of November 1 as you would January 1. Most people gorge themselves so much during the holidays that by the time December 31 rolls around they’re completely fed up with their own choices. It becomes easy to make that New Year’s resolution. Then, as we all know, they don’t last more than 2 weeks if we’re lucky. But when you commit to making your own well-being a priority, you will make the choices necessary to stay strong and healthy throughout the entire year. Yes, it will get challenging during holiday parties and the like, but you are incredible, you have the power inside you, and you can make this the healthiest year yet. Commit to it first!
Second, enter your workouts and meditations on your calendar. There are many studies that show people who schedule their lives are far more productive than those who don’t. Sometimes my wife has to wake up at 6am and begin cooking desert for a party in the evening. I know, it sounds crazy, but she schedules everything and happens to be way more productive than most. If you’re one of those high achievers, an easy way to get yourself into the habit of exercise, meditation, yoga, or anything that is helpful, is to schedule it. If you’ve made a full commitment to your well-being and you schedule your meditation and workouts, you’re bound to do more of them. Instead of leading the aimless life, you’re setting yourself up for success.
Third, make sure to celebrate your victories! I know it’s not easy to say no to the pumpkin pie a la mode, but instead of having a full slice and a full scoop, ask someone to share and indulge in a bite or two instead of a slice or three. Chew it super slowly and make it last as if it were the last bite of pumpkin pie a la mode you were ever going to eat. Then maybe have another bite, but I bet you won’t want to dive into the entire pie. When you can commit to that and you actually do it, you’ll be so happy. You’ll feel so much better about yourself in the morning. That’s when you’ve reached the other side! That’s when you will feel the light at the end of the tunnel. And soon, those experiences become more natural and you witness yourself gravitating toward good not destructive. But unless you’ve had the experience of giving to yourself, you won’t actually build the strength to make those choices easy. You’ll continue to tell yourself what everyone else does. “It’s the holidays,” or “everyone is having a drink,” or “I’ll make the commitment tomorrow!”
Be different, swim upstream, live long and prosper! See you on the trails @teddymcdonald
