I am taking a little break from the “Budgets and Bulges” theme, but will pick it up again after the first of the year. I think we really need to look at how to survive the holiday season.
When I was a kid, I lived from holiday to holiday. Indeed, the school system encouraged this way of thinking, as the bulletin board, the reading assignments, and the math problems centered around whatever holiday was approaching. Let’s face it: this approach got you through the year and on to summer.
As a youngster, I had absolutely no angst about Christmas, because I didn’t have to buy the presents, I didn’t have to make the Christmas dinner, I didn’t have to make sure everyone was having a good time at family gatherings. I just floated along on the joyousness of the season, and the sugar-induced high that accompanied it.
Forget about sugarplums: bring on the homemade fudge and the cookies, and the candied yams, and the peppermint sticks, and whatever else found its way into the house. Here’s another thing: I never worried whether to indulge, how much to indulge, or when to stop. I just did whatever I wanted. Those were the days when Christmas had real meaning—wreckless indulgence without guilt.
Fast-forward to today’s scenario. Halloween treats barely make the shelves before they are whisked off to the 50% table, to be replace by a sparse collection of Thanksgiving offerings. Thanksgiving is not-so-subtly nudged to the background as Christmas dominates the aisles, the endcaps, and the entrance of every store in the neighborhood.
And then the shopping begins. And the sales, and the door-busters, and Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, and all the marketing madness takes over. Then it’s not fun anymore. (excuse me if you enjoy the madness—I don’t mean to rain on your parade.) The gay, carefree, angst-free days of Christmas rapidly fade to the background, and the crazy, harried, exhausting days of Christmas begin.
It’s no wonder people get stressed out over the holidays. Contrary to popular belief, however, suicide rates actually decrease during the holiday season (snopes.com). That is not to say, though, that we still don’t go a little crazy. How could you not? Have you looked at your kids’ Christmas lists lately?
But seriously, let’s try to be positive. Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. (If I offend anyone by not saying “the holiday season,” please let me apologize. But to me, it will ever and always be Christmas.) You should be enjoying yourself. That means taking time to be with family and friends, and, oh yes—indulging. I really said that.
Is that really so bad? I don’t think so. What is bad is regretting your over-indulging on January 1st, and having to scramble around trying to find the most effective, least painful diet. That is such a crappy way to start the year, especially if you have had, like 2 weeks off, and in addition to having 10 pounds to lose, you also have to return to WORK.
So here’s my suggestion. Indulge. But go to the gym every day. Yup. I said EVERY DAY. I realize this a very radical concept. Trust me on this, because I think I might have something here. Here’s what can happen:
• You will reduce stress.
• You will have more energy.
• You will feel better about yourself.
• You will make healthier choices.
• You might actually lose weight over the holidays!
Isn’t that a nice way to look at things? I believe it’s a lot more positive that denying yourself. And if you think you can skip the gym all through the month of December, and then return in January with a "fresh new perspective" on exercise, think again. Your whole New Year's resolution just got that much harder, my friend. Going to the gym doesn't give you carte blanche to eat everything in sight,but you definitely have more room to negotiate.
Here’s a link to some other helpful hints for de-stressing the madness (unless of course you thoroughly enjoy the madness…)
http://exercise.about.com/od/exercisementalhealth/tp/holidaystress.htm
Merry Christmas!
