Volume 20: Don’t Let the Holidays Become a Six-Week Excuse

We’re approaching that time of year when maintaining a healthy lifestyle can become a little more challenging. Thanksgiving is around the corner, Christmas isn’t far behind, and suddenly our calendars begin filling with holiday parties, family gatherings, dinners, and more opportunities to indulge than we typically encounter throughout the rest of the year.

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying those things. In fact, I hope you do.

But here’s a question worth asking yourself: Are you planning to enjoy a few holiday meals, or are you about to give yourself permission to abandon your healthy habits for the next six weeks?

Maybe Thanksgiving becomes a four-day weekend of eating whatever you want. Then the Christmas parties begin, holiday treats start showing up at work, and suddenly there are cookies, candy, desserts, and snacks everywhere you turn. Before long, you’ve convinced yourself there’s really no point in trying to eat healthy until January 1st.

The problem isn’t Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas cookies. It’s turning an occasional indulgence into your everyday routine.

Think about the decisions you’ll be making over the next several weeks. How much holiday candy, cookies, and processed food are you going to bring into your house? Are you going to enjoy a few special meals, or will every day become another opportunity to cheat? Will you maintain your exercise routine, even if you have to adjust it around a busier schedule?

These are decisions worth making now, before you’re surrounded by temptations and a calendar full of commitments.

And here’s something else to consider: How do you want to feel during the holidays? And how do you want to feel when they’re over?

If you’re spending weeks consuming excessive amounts of sugar, alcohol, and highly processed foods while abandoning your exercise routine, there’s a good chance you’re not going to feel your best. Your sleep may suffer, your energy may decline, and you may find yourself feeling sluggish during a season when you want to enjoy time with family and friends.

That’s why I’d encourage you to be more intentional during the holidays, not less.

You already know there will be parties, special dinners, and opportunities to enjoy foods you don’t normally eat. So plan around them. If you’re going to a Christmas party Saturday night, that doesn’t mean every meal leading up to it needs to become a cheat meal too.

Eat nutritious meals throughout the week. Keep whole foods in your refrigerator. Maintain your normal routines as much as possible. And when you have an opportunity to enjoy something special, enjoy it without guilt.

The same goes for exercise. Your schedule might be busier than usual, but that doesn’t mean you need to abandon movement. Maybe your normal hour-long workout becomes 30 minutes, or you take a walk after Thanksgiving dinner. Maintaining momentum is much easier than rebuilding it after six weeks of inactivity.

And here’s my challenge: What if you started January 1st with momentum instead of starting over?

Imagine waking up on New Year’s Day knowing you enjoyed Thanksgiving, celebrated Christmas, spent time with the people you love, and still maintained the habits you’ve worked so hard to build. Instead of making another resolution to get healthy, you’re already doing it.

So enjoy the holidays. Have the Thanksgiving dinner. Eat the Christmas cookies. Celebrate with your family and friends. Just don’t let a few special occasions turn into six weeks of decisions that move you away from your goals.

You don’t need to sacrifice the holidays to protect your progress. And you don’t need to sacrifice your progress to enjoy the holidays.

Start January 1st with momentum, not regret.