Healthy Holidays
Image courtesy Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot at www.freedigitalphotos.net
Enjoy Seven Steps for Healthy Holidays from 3D Vitality Health Coach Ann Musico and me!
Step 1: D E C I S I O N
Healthy Business from Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Business Coaching: What is the first step to a healthy business this holiday season? Decision. Decide exactly what you desire with crystal-clear clarity. How many clients? How much income? How much will you spend on gifts? How many hours will you work? How much time will you spend with family? How many holiday parties will you attend? How many days off will you enjoy? The holidays are special, so ensure to carve enough time to savor the season and to celebrate with loved ones. Your decision-making will prevent potential business-family conflicts. It will allay feelings of being torn. It will foster a beautiful work-life balance. So go ahead and embrace a healthy holiday season: DECIDE now exactly what you want! http://reflecthislight.com/2013/03/heart-centered-biz-tip-crystal-clear-goals/
Healthy Body from Ann Musico of Three Dimensional Vitality: Get a clear, specific visual picture of the entire meal the night before. Visualize the situation. If there’s temptation or anxiety, close your eyes and picture it. Hear in your mind’s ear what people will say. See yourself responding in a way that would make you proud of yourself, whatever that is. Decide ahead of time how the day will go. The point is not what you choose, but that you choose it….and then stick to your choice. The objective is to put yourself in charge of what happens, not be a slave to the circumstances. If you can accomplish that, you have begun a journey that will not only help you manage your weight this holiday season, but will empower you in all areas of your life. http://todaystheday7weekplan.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/belly-busting-breakfasts/
Healthy Life: Decide to commit all you do – worshipping, working, celebrating, eating or drinking – to God’s glory. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Step 2: P R E P A R E
Healthy Business from Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Business Coaching: Once you decide what you want, it’s time to PREPARE to achieve it. From the visions of your decisions, determine exactly how you will accomplish their fruition. Then break down the actions into smaller steps. Did you decide, for example, that you want a week off during the holiday season? How can you achieve this? What emails do you need to send? What people do you need to notify? What newsletters do you need to schedule? Take the time to purposefully prepare in order to enjoy a powerfully rewarding holiday season! (Enjoy this special Purposeful Pathway Radio episode on the work-life balance: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/purposeful-pathway-radio/2013/10/23/wisdom-wednesday-with-business-coach-caroline-gavin.)
Healthy Body from Ann Musico of Three Dimensional Vitality: Before parties – eat normally! Most people don’t eat anything else all day leading up to the big event in order to “save up” the calories. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by starving yourself all day. Eat as you normally would so you don’t walk into a party starving and eat twice as much as you intended. (Learn more at http://todaystheday7weekplan.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/to-eat-or-not-to-eat/.)
Healthy Life: Prepare always with God’s glory in mind! “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)
Step 3: S I M P L I F Y
Healthy Business from Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Business Coaching: You have decided what you want, and you have prepared by planning; now it is time to take action! Simple as it may seem, simplification is a powerful action. How can you simplify? One way is to purposefully say “no” in order to powerfully say “yes.” Another way is to consciously de-clutter the excess in your business and life. Are you scurrying to too many school committee meetings lately? Maybe it’s time to make a change. Are you over-committed with projects? Maybe it’s time to prioritize. Simplification will make your holidays (and all your days) all the more special – and all the easier to savor! (Learn how to master the “positive no” at http://reflecthislight.com/2011/08/390/.)
Healthy Body from Ann Musico of Three Dimensional Vitality: Use a smaller plate. Sometimes you just want to enjoy what’s there without having to limit your selections. If that’s the case, try using dessert-sized plates to keep your calorie intake in check. A full plate still looks full, but there’s less food on it. Sometimes you just have to “trick” yourself. (Learn how to feed yourself the truth at http://todaystheday7weekplan.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/are-you-lying-to-yourself/.)
Healthy Life: Reject the complicated, confused and cluttered life; embrace instead the simplified sweet life! “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace–as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”(1 Corinthians 14:33)
Step 4: B O U N D A R I E S
Healthy Business from Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Business Coaching: You have decided, prepared and simplified; now it is time to propel your progress with beautiful boundaries! Boundaries come in two forms: internal and external. Set internal boundaries with yourself regarding how many hours you will work, how many parties you will attend, how many desserts you enjoy, how much money you will spend, etc. Set external boundaries with others in these same areas. Reinforce your internal boundaries with motivational reminders, Scripture verses and affirmations. Reinforce your external boundaries with healthy conversations and positive communication. Beautiful boundaries contribute powerfully to a healthy – and happy – holiday experience. Learn more about the beauty of boundary-building at http://reflecthislight.com/2013/07/beauty-of-boundaries-for-business/ .
Healthy Body from Ann Musico of Three Dimensional Vitality: Most of the weight we put on during the holiday season comes from the second (and sometimes third) helping, not the first. And while it’s easy to go back for more, a great way to cut out half the calories you’d normally eat at a holiday function is to limit yourself to only one helping. Here’s an idea that can make the small plate method even more effective: Serve yourself only “half” first, filling up the plate half-way and then taking time to sit, eat slowly, chew, and enjoy what’s there. Then, you have the added bonus of being able to go back for the other half if you choose to! (Kind of a “fake” second helping!) http://todaystheday7weekplan.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/you-dont-have-to-gain-weight-over-the-holidays/
Healthy Life: Boundaries separate land from sea, night from the day, nation from nation. “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” (Acts 17:26) Build and maintain boundaries during the holiday season (and every season), remembering that God Himself created boundaries for healthy living.
Step 5: S A V O R
Healthy Business from Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Business Coaching: You have decided, prepared, simplified and set boundaries; now it is time to savor the season! How can you savor? Choose to be purposefully present. Choose to marvel miracles in the moment. Choose to celebrate with worship and with wonder. Yes, savoring the season is a Christ-centered choice, and it involves embracing the season as wide-eyed children: http://reflecthislight.com/2013/06/little-children/
Healthy Body from Ann Musico of Three Dimensional Vitality: Intentionally chew your food at least 20 times before swallowing while giving yourself a bit of a breather between bites and increasing digestion. Slow down and really savor the flavors, aromas and textures – and the conversation! Eating slowly allows your intelligent body to signal when you’ve had enough, and you will consume about 10% fewer calories when you eat at a slow pace as opposed to rushing through the meal. http://todaystheday7weekplan.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/are-you-giving-your-meals-the-attention-they-deserve/
Healthy Life: We have heard many times that the present is a gift. Choose to celebrate each day as the miracle it is! “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) Christmas reminds us that miracles abound all around: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and the Son of God was born to die that we may live. Savor then the beauty of the season and the eternal life we know in Christ.
Step 6: C E L E B R A T E
Healthy Business from Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Business Coaching: You have decided, prepared, simplified, set boundaries and savored; now it is time to celebrate! Celebrate your clients by expressing your thanks. Celebrate your friends by sharing of yourself. Celebrate your family by showing your love. Celebrate Christ by embracing completely the Gift of His Presence. Yes, join all of creation in the celebration of the Creator: http://reflecthislight.com/2013/02/celebration-of-creation/
Healthy Body from Ann Musico of Three Dimensional Vitality: Most of us will eat more than usual and they will be foods that we don’t regularly eat. That’s ok! Holidays are meant to be celebrated and enjoyed and there should be no stress or guilt. Those emotions only shut down your digestive system. When you celebrate with loved ones over cherished family meals, simply relax and enjoy. It doesn’t happen every day and a few days will not ruin the benefits you worked so hard for. http://todaystheday7weekplan.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/side-stepping-the-holiday-weight-gain-minefield/
Healthy Life: Christmas is a time of celebration; indeed every moment is a celebration, as every moment Christ miraculously lives in our hearts. Enjoy the celebration of all creation by lifting your heart to heaven!
“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:1-6)
Step 7: L O V E
This step is the simplest, but also the most powerful. Choose to infuse more love into your life and into the lives of others. Choose to love God and others more deeply and purely. Love is the key to a truly happy and healthy holiday season!
