Healthy Habits for the Holidays
As December approaches, many of us are looking forward to resuming traditions and festivities we missed out on last year. Despite being in a much better place this year, there is still uncertainty and stress inherent to the pandemic, whether it’s related to sickness, socializing, or supply chains. For people who are grieving the loss of loved ones, struggling through pandemic isolation and upheaval–or even just coping with the winter blues–the holidays may not necessarily be something they’re looking forward to.
For all these reasons, staying well by keeping up with healthy habits is more important than ever.
The University of Connecticut has a helpful article on 10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues. Mental health experts at UConn suggest that now is the perfect time to start planning for a happier holiday season, by mindfully acknowledging your struggles; getting plenty of sunlight, exercise and rest; focusing on people and things you enjoy and avoiding those you don’t; and finding new ways to celebrate and make positive memories.
The American Heart Association encourages us to counteract the excesses of the holiday season with healthy snacks, exercise, and calm and mindful “me-time.” Another tip is to plan for the new year, when the excitement of the holidays has subsided. Thinking ahead to sustainable and realistic goals will help you stay on track.
Butler Hospital has kicked off a series to encourage older Rhode Islanders to foster brain health during this time of year, dubbed the 2021 Brain Healthy Holiday Challenge. Each week during November and December, the challenge focuses on one of the 8 Pillars of Brain Health.
Those eight pillars are:
- Stay Active
- Eat Well
- Sleep Well
- Exercise your Brain
- Connect with Friends and Family
- Relax and Reduce Stress
- Control Risk Factors
- Get Involved in Research
The challenges offer a wealth of helpful information and practical ideas and advice for nurturing brain health. You can keep up with them on Butler’s Memory & Aging website, Facebook or Twitter.
One last must-do for a healthy holiday season: get your annual flu shot. The Rhode Island Department of Health encourages everyone over 6 months of age to get their flu shot. For adults 65 or older, enhanced flu vaccines will be available.
Remember: the same things that help prevent the spread of COVID-19–masking, washing hands and social distancing–also help to curb the spread of influenza. Not sure where to get your shot? Check out the RI Flu Vaccination Site Locator tool.