Thrive and Survive this Holiday Season.

□by: Alexandr Podvalny

As we all feel the pressure of the Holiday’s barreling on towards us, we need to find tools that will help us thrive, survive and actually ENJOY the season. As with any problem, if we don’t fill out toolboxes with helpful tools we will not be successful. Here are some tips and tricks to try this holiday season.

• If you are really stressed about gift giving, try speaking up and suggesting omitting the gifting or doing a white elephant gift instead? Even better, suggest a gift of experiences with the ones you love. Memories can be cherished for a lifetime, objects can be lost or broken.  
  
• Make sure you carve time out for yourself, be it to read a book, take a walk or hike. All of those activities will recharge your body and mind. 
  
• Choose low stress activities to do with your family. How about binging out holiday themed movies? 
  
• If you are recovering from a loss, make sure you have your support people in place to help you through the first holiday without them. 
  
• Keep your life in balance by sticking to your healthy habits of eating right, exercising and getting enough sleep. When we are sleep deprived, it can trigger our bodies for depression, loneliness and illness. 
  
• For holiday gatherings away from home, ask how you can help the host. Especially if you have different dietary needs than the host. How about asking to bring a dish delicately by saying, “you know I’ve been hijacked by plant eaters, do you mind if I bring a few meat free dishes to the feast?” 
  
• As you wish people to be generous with you, please remember to be generous with the host. They have worked hard to prepare a meal for everyone to enjoy.  You can also defuse an explosive situation by simply saying “Oh, that actually hurts my feelings because I worked so hard and wanted you to enjoy it.’”
  
• The best way to deal with bad drunken behavior is by not serving alcohol. Here are some creative recipes to serve instead from Shatterproof, Spruce Eats and A Squirrel in the Kitchen (an AIP site).
  

Happy Holiday and hoping to see many of you next in our Metabolic Reset.