This is the time of year when things start to get a little, chaotic and busy – to say the least! From Halloween until the end of the year, we’re a LOT busier! School's been back in session, work loads tend to get heavier and now we have about 15 different holiday parties we have to attend to. It is so easy to sit back and say “I’ll get back on track after the first of the year”... “I’ll start when things slow down”... "I don't have time to do this right now"...any of this sound familiar? But keep in mind...
There is NEVER going to be a “perfect time” of year to start something!
Whether it’s cleaning up your diet, getting back to the gym, whatever. Think of all the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, trips, vacations and festivities that happen all throughout the year….so why is the “holiday season” any different? Can it be a little less convenient because you’re busier? Sure? Should it be an excuse to put your health aside until the first of the year? No way!
Often times, when people really think about why they have that “I’ll start when…” mindset, it really just comes down to having excuses. I don’t say that to be rude, or to be insensitive. I get it, it’s hard. It’s not ideal. It’s not convenient. But most of the time, LIFE isn’t convenient. I cannot stress this enough – there will never be a perfect time to start something. Don't put your goals on hold just because the time of year is inconvenient. If you have that mindset, you’ll never 1) commit to something long term and 2) never be truly successful …..you’ll always find some reason to “start when….”
Here are some tips to keep you going during the holiday season:
KEEP YOUR ROUTINE
Let's say it's Christmas week and you have the whole week off work (lucky you!)…If you normally go to the gym at 5 AM before work, keep that routine. Don’t change things because you have the week off. Get up as you normally would and go kick some ass in the gym. Get your day started right! If you’re anything like me, and tell yourself “I’ll just go later today, I have all day” – you probably won’t go :)
STAY ACTIVE
If your normal gym/workout routine just cannot happen for whatever reason, it’s incredibly important to still stay active. Staying active doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Take your dogs for a quick 10-15 minute walk before your day starts. If you're running errands, park farther away and make yourself walk a little farther. Invest in some home gym equipment and set aside a quick full body workout you can do before the family comes over.
EAT WHAT YOU WANT, BUT DON'T EAT "JUST BECAUSE"
This is such a fascinating topic to talk to people about. So often, we socialize with food. We eat when we’re happy, we eat when we’re sad, we eat when we socialize. It’s like this weird comfort blanket. It is incredibly easy to stand around the food table while your’e talking with your Aunt Susie and not even realize you’ve just devoured about 2,000 calories in bread and spinach dip. (OK, maybe not that much – but you get my point). Grab a plate, step away from the food table and go find somewhere to sit and socialize. I challenge you to do this at your next holiday party, it’s fascinating how much less you’ll snack if you’re not hovering over the appetizer table ;)
DON'T GO OVERBOARD, BUT DON'T DEPRIVE YOURSELF
Make sure you load your dinner plate with protein, salad and veggies first before heading to the dessert table. You'll be a less likely to overindulge if you already feel relatively satisfied from healthy, whole foods. At the end of the day, if you want a cookie, eat the damn cookie - just don't eat 5! ;)
Give yourself a game plan you'll adhere to with specific goals, like this, and you'll be just fine! :)