11 Ways to Keep from Going Overboard This Season

I’ve been focusing on staying sane this season – not going overboard by spending too much, doing too much, eating too much. You know.

If you read my Boundary post, you’ll also know that I’m working on keeping my own boundaries intact, and this effort gets stretched during the holiday season. (If you didn’t, it’s here, and there’s a free PDF you can download to fill in and mark boundaries).

So here are some tips that have helped me to stay sane this season, gathered all in one place … for you!

TIPS FOR THE BODY

1. Have a battle plan

Sarah, from Must Have Mom gives a few tips for staying on track with diet and fitness goals during the holiday. My favorite is having a plan for snack portion sizes (with a link to a Weight Watchers guide for that), and also bringing your own healthy substitute to share at holiday gatherings.  (She has a link to a healthy version of Jalapeño Poppers that looks amazing).

By the way, you also have a chance to win a Garmint Vivofit by clicking over. And no – nothing in this post is sponsored. Just stuff I find helpful.

2. Take a nap

I used to take naps regularly, long after my children needed them. I’m thankful to have enough energy these days that I don’t often need a nap. But there are times when I can see that it’s the thing that will give me the pick-up I need later on to care for my kids and tackle my responsibilities. If you feel like you’ve reached your limit, fluff up your pillow and kick back!

3. Take iron or magnesium I’m no doctor. You know that. So don’t follow this advice without using your own common sense (or asking for a doctor’s opinion). But sometimes I’m so drained I forget that my iron levels are generally low and it’s been awhile since I’ve taken an iron supplement. I usually figure it out when I’m like a snowman in June and can barely pick up one foot to put it in front of the other. It doesn’t take much for me to see a difference when I start taking supplements again.

Last week I didn’t go to the gym at all. Once I drove all the way there, and at the roundabout turned around and came back home. I was just so tired. However, after only a couple days of iron, and I feel ready to go back to the gym and do damage control with the holiday eating.

I mention magnesium too because French pharmacies stock up in the fall in preparation for the holidays (and reduced sunlight?). If you’re feeling stressed, magnesium can sometimes do wonders to restore an equilibrium. I’ve seen that firsthand in my own life.

4. Take fiber If you decide to take iron supplements, you’re probably going to need it.