5 Ways to Stay Happy and Healthy Around the Holidays

English philosopher Jeremy Bentham defined happiness as “the experience of pleasure and absence of pain.”

And this time of year – this sacred, sentimental time of year – we often uphold this definition of happiness. We go to parties. We make plans to see family and friends. We give and receive gifts. We seek out the special people, places, and things that give us pleasure.

But when I read Jeremy Bentham’s words, I wonder… what is pleasure, and what is pain?

We think of these things like they are sensations, feelings brought on by physical stimuli – pleasure, of course, being positive, and pain being negative. But there is pain and pleasure on each side of every choice we make.

For example…

This holiday season, as you go to your parties and seek out your friends, you will find yourself surrounded by temptation: sugary sweets, spiced alcohol, and other things you might not often indulge in.

We enjoy these things because they make us happy – they give us pleasure. But when we partake, there is also pain.

There is pain when we wake up the next morning feeling sluggish and slow.

There is pain when we step on the scale in January.

And there is pain when we feel our cognitive function slipping away from us.

But, what would the holidays be without their signature treats? It feels like these things are foundational for our enjoyment of the season.

So, how is it possible for us to enjoy the holidays without sabotaging ourselves in the future?

I have asked myself this many times over the years – but as I studied what helps and what hurts the brain, I have come across some things that help me walk on both sides of that line. Here is what has helped me…

1.Bring your own snacks to parties.

It has become a habit for my husband and me to bring something with us to holiday parties when invited – in fact, it is customary in our home country of Sweden.

When you are included in on a special occasion, you can offer to make one of these healthy holiday appetizers – not just for your own enjoyment, but as a good reminder of moderation for every attending.

2. Hydrate yourself.

This isn’t just good advice for the holidays… it’s also one of my 7 cheap, simple strategies for boosting your brain performance.

Since your brain is, on average, 80% water, you should be hydrated year-round. Even a 1% decrease in hydration can majorly impact your brain function.

But this is especially important this time of year, when it seems like all we have around us is unhealthy foods. When we are dehydrated, our brain sends our body signals to let us know – and sometimes, we misinterpret those signals as hunger. When we are properly hydrated, though, we are less likely to indulge excessively.

3. Plan your meals.

Making decisions in advance is one of the best ways to keep yourself on track. It may be difficult to do that when you do not have total control over your options – but when you do, you can make wise choices.

You can create a holiday menu that includes healthy and festive options, such as…

• Spices
• Fermented foods
• Dark chocolate
• Avocados
• Leafy greens

4. Stay active.

For many of us around the world, this is the coldest time of year. We are enjoying time with our loved ones indoors, resting by the fire.

But don’t forget to get your blood flowing when you can. Winter weather can be a great setting for some outdoor fun – try sledding, playing with your family in the snow, or even just going for a wintery walk to look at decorations.

Shoveling your driveway isn’t as fun, but it is just as effective!

5. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.

Not-so-fun fact: sleep deprivation is surprisingly common around the holidays. We are so busy celebrating, shopping, wrapping, and visiting that we wear ourselves out and do not give ourselves enough time to recover.

This is dangerous for our brains, our bodies, and our immune systems, too. Get your eight hours in each night to keep yourself well.

Pleasure now or later – only you can decide. It is possible to maintain your health and your happiness around the holidays!

Oh – and if you know someone who is looking for holiday help, feel free to pass this email along 🙂

Make today your masterpiece!

Florina