This is a topic near and dear to my
heart, and something that is far more easily said than done, particularly
during this "most wonderful time of the year." Here are my top
tips for surviving… and maybe even enjoying this holiday season.
- Make sure you are getting a good night's sleep and that your children are
too! The CDC recommends that adults get 7-8 hours, teens 9-10, school age
children at least 10, and preschoolers 11-12 hours per day. For more info
on sleep, check out this link www.cdc.gov
- Eat right! It's easy to eat on the run this time of year and indulge in
some treats, but fast food, baked goods, and alcohol will only leave your body
craving real nutrition. If you must dine out, try something like Chipotle
that has fresh food (order on-line to save yourself some time). Avoid
menu items with the words fried, smothered, sautéed and anything with cream/cream
sauce; when you can, opt for grilled or steamed. Keep the sweets to a minimum by
filling up on healthy foods and knowing that you don't have to try every single
one of your relative’s cookies. When enjoying adult beverages, try not to
over-indulge as alcohol interferes with sleep.
- Exercise! It doesn't matter what you do, just move your body and get
your heart rate elevated. After a long and hectic day I often don't want
to exercise, but I always do, because it makes me feel so much better! If
you find yourself less than motivated, try just doing 5 minutes of
something. Chances are, once you start, you'll feel better and that 5
minutes will turn into more.
- Make time for yourself! Whether it's a nightly bubble bath, a
restorative yoga class (think getting cozy in a pose while the instructor comes
around and gives all the students a massage), date night, a girls' night
in/out, a chapter of a good book, or just some time spent sitting in the silence
after the kids are in bed. Remember, you can't take care of anyone else if you
don't take care of yourself.
- Avoid peak shopping times! Though if you must, be prepared to take some
deep breaths and know that there is always a place of peace and calm inside you
if you take those deep breaths. A great strategy is to inhale for 4 counts,
hold for 4 counts, and then exhale for 6 counts.
- Arrange for childcare while you are shopping. Whether it's grandma or
grandpa or a teenager in your neighborhood, leaving the kids at home while you
brave the stores will make things a lot less stressful! If you don't have
a trusted sitter, local churches and mom's clubs often have lists of
babysitters and websites. Places like www.care.com and www.sittercity.com have been
very helpful for many people. The Little Gym (www.thelittlegym.com)also
offers Parent Survival nights (usually Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-10:00)
and they have day camps during the weeks that the kids are out of school so
that you can get some shopping done in peace. I checked rates last month
for my son, and it's $30 for members, $35 for non-members and there are
discounts for multiple children.
- Use your children as an excuse. Hopefully none of my relatives are
reading this right now, but getting your kids to bed on time is a great excuse
to leave a stressful or unenjoyable holiday gathering a little early.
- Find something to be grateful for in every situation. When I'm sitting
in traffic and my son is complaining, I remind him (and me), that not everyone
has a car or money to fill up the gas tank and we are truly blessed to have the
ability to sit in our warm car with music and each other for however long it
takes us to get where we are going.
Happy Holidays!
Nicole N. Torres, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Labels: Parents
