The holiday season’s socializing, travel, naughty foods, and cold weather can make it challenging to stay well. However, maintaining good health is imperative in order to make the most of this magical time of year. Never fear: The following strategies can help you stay fighting fit during the festive season.
Enjoy a Balanced Diet
We get it — saying no to a second slice of pie is hard and champagne goes down so easily this time of year. The holiday season just wouldn’t be the holiday season without those culinary indulgences. But if you fall off the wagon and let a few cheat days become cheat weeks or cheat months, you’re bound to feel the ill effects.
While we enjoy our favorite treats in the moment, they can play havoc with our bodies. Overindulge and you’ll start feeling tired and run-down. Avoid extended binges and add some delicious healthy items to your holiday spreads, like baked salmon, fresh fruit salad, or an eye-catching vegetable wreath.
Regularly Swap the HVAC Filter
Changing the HVAC filter is one of the easiest ways to keep your home’s system running efficiently. Pollen, chemicals, and other nasties can’t effectively be trapped by dirty filters. They’re also breeding grounds for bacteria, fungal spores, and mold.
Experts recommend cleaning or changing your filter at least every 60 days. The start of the holiday season is a good time to make the change. With a fresh filter in place, your HVAC system can filter undesirable elements from the air, helping you breathe easier and preventing asthma attacks, allergy symptoms, and other respiratory complaints.
All the extra people in your home over the holidays can increase the amount of dirt, dust, pet dander, and other undesirable elements in your air, making your HVAC system work harder. It pays to change your HVAC filter again after your guests leave to make sure it’s working its best and keeping you well.
Reduce Stress
We love the holidays, but they can be overwhelming. If the thought of buying and wrapping presents, baking festive treats, and getting your home holiday-ready before December 25 sends you into a cold sweat, take steps to reduce your stress. Healthy stress levels can help you work more efficiently, but too much reduces your immunity and triggers headaches. Reserve eight hours for sleep and take time for calming activities like practicing yoga or meditating to manage your stress.
Deep Clean After Entertaining
You love your family and friends, but you might shudder to think about all the germs they could bring into your home. We don’t suggest playing hermit over the holidays, but cleaning thoroughly once guests leave can help you banish microorganisms before they take hold.
Wipe down every surface with a bleach-free antibacterial spray, which will kill germs without noxious fumes. This kind of spray is perfect for places where kids play and your food preparation areas. While there are great commercial options, a mix of one part white vinegar to six parts water, along with some drops of tea tree or lavender oil, makes an excellent natural alternative.
Forget about those pesky Christmas illnesses. With the right strategies in place, you can enjoy good health throughout the holiday season.
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