How to Stay Grounded & Present During the Holiday Hustle

Discover practical tips to stay grounded and present during the holiday hustle. Make this season more joyful and less stressful with mindfulness, movement, and self-care.

How to Stay Grounded and Fit During the Holiday Hustle

Crisp weather. The crackling fireplace. Traditions that make you feel nostalgic. The holiday season is pure magic, but it can quickly become draining and overwhelming if we don’t safeguard our well-being with self-care habits. 

You can embrace this season with open arms by incorporating a few simple acts of mindfulness, movement, and intentional self-care. The hardest part is usually slowing down and remembering to take care of yourself, but don’t worry! That’s why we’re here. Here’s how you can show up as your best self as we kick off the holiday season!

Why Staying Grounded During the Holidays is Essential

This time of year is ripe with memorable events, traditions, and gatherings, but tight schedules, financial strain, and high expectations can sometimes put a stressful damper on our holiday cheer. 

When we stay grounded through mindfulness, exercise, and community, we’re able to stay level-headed and show up with clarity and compassion to the holiday events that we choose to give our time to. The key word there is “choose” because burnout at this time of year is real. Remember, while there is much to do, you don’t have to do EVERYTHING, and conserving your energy is an act of self-care!

The Power of Mindfulness During the Holidays

Mindfulness is a powerful tool for the holiday season. By definition, mindfulness is the mental act of being fully present in the moment and acknowledging your body’s feelings, thoughts, and responses to that moment. 

When we practice mindfulness, we are rewiring our brain to fully appreciate the present moment instead of fretting over the future, the past, or what could have been. A surefire way to savor the most special holiday moments is to be fully present in those moments. When we are distracted, our brains don’t retain the memory or experience as clearly. Mindfulness allows all of your senses to absorb whatever you’re doing, and thus improve your brain cognition, mental clarity, and attention. 

Some tips for mindfulness during the holidays include: 

Start your day right. How we start our day can be a major predictor of how the rest of the day will go. When you choose to start your day with gratitude, an intention for the day, and deep breathing, you set yourself up for a more calm and relaxed day overall.  

Practice deep breathing. We often forget to focus on our breathing, but its impact on regulating our body and emotions can’t be overstated. Deep, slow breathing is critical to a balanced nervous system! 

Practice gratitude for each moment. Gratitude is widely recognized as a powerful tool for stronger mental health. Try to slow down and focus on each moment of the holidays by noting things you’re grateful for. Pro tip: there is no wrong answer! While the big things are easier to name, you can simply be appreciative of a new day, food in your refrigerator, or a healthy body. 

Feel Grounded With Movement – Holiday Workout Tips

No matter how busy your holiday schedule gets, you’ll always feel the benefits of daily movement! Exercise is critical for your body’s hormonal regulation, which helps reduce stress, aids in digestion, and boosts your immune function. 

Plus, more exercise gives your body more energy! It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true. Exercise supports your cardiovascular system, firing up your heart and lungs. Additionally, as we know, exercise releases feel-good endorphins which stimulate energy in the body. When you make time for movement, you’re super-charging your mind, body, and spirit. Here are some doable tips for staying fit during the holidays. 

Making Fitness a Part of Holiday Activities

Make it a family thing—start a tradition with your loved ones centered around fitness! Try a new annual Christmas hike, walk, or Thanksgiving Turkey Trot! You’ll spend quality time with your friends and family while doing something good for your body. 

You could also opt to walk around neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights instead of driving through them. Get those steps while you enjoy the sparkle of the season! 

Practical Tips for Staying Fit During Holiday Gatherings

Holiday gatherings and out-of-town visits can often result in long days of sitting around and eating big meals. There are fun, practical, and easy ways to move your body even during these holiday visits. 

Keep your workouts short. If you want to stay consistent with your fitness routine, we suggest bookmarking quick, effective workouts for when you can sneak away for a few minutes. Jazzercise On Demand has travel-friendly and 10-minute HIIT categories that are perfect for this! 

Make stretching fun. Guide your friends and family through a stretch sesh! Getting the whole group in on it will add some fun and you’ll give yourselves a much-needed body reset before or after a big meal. 

Be on the setup and teardown committee! Look for ways to move your body other than traditional workouts! Offer to set up tables and chairs for meals, be in charge of tear down and clean up. Make everyday tasks movement-focused, and you’ll feel better overall.

Managing Holiday Food and Fitness Goals

Food is one of the most special aspects of the holiday season and we highly encourage you to enjoy your favorite traditions! But you can aim for optimal nutrition while embracing the season’s flavors. 

Aim to build colorful plates whenever you can. Think fruits and vegetables that range in color, which means they also range in beneficial vitamins and minerals! Savory orange sweet potatoes, rich greens, bright red cranberry, multi-colored squash…now our mouths are watering!

Stay hydrated! The cooking, shopping, and traveling frenzy can quietly offset your normal well-being. A few hours can fly by and you haven’t had a drop of water. An easy way to ensure you’re hydrated for the long haul is to add some electrolytes to your water first thing in the morning.

Make protein the star of your plate. Whether you’re going for turkey, roast beef, or a vegetarian/vegan option, remember that protein should be the main macronutrient you focus on. Protein is key in your body’s repairing and functioning systems. Hitting your protein goals encourages muscle growth, repairs tissue, supports bone health and maintains hunger. 

A happy, healthy holiday season

The goal of the holiday season is to savor the special moments that spark joy. No matter who that is with or where having a healthy body and mind will help you do that. With these tips to stay grounded, mindful, and fit this season, you’ll make memories while feeling your very best. 

Need a little me-time to shake your holiday stress away? Our dance floors are always here for you! Find a Jazzercise studio and prioritize your health and happiness.