Thanksgiving is the best- yummy food, family and friends, football and little stress- (if you didn't cook) but then as the night approaches and the leftovers are packed up, you know what lies ahead. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, crowds, deals and long lines. Christmas seems to be coming earlier and earlier every year- we rush into the season and forget to savor the last leaves of fall. The wreath is going on the door but the pumpkin is still sitting on the front stoop- oh well, now that Thanksgiving weekend is over I guess I have to face the holiday season ahead. A few notes of Nat King Cole set the perfect mood, but with so much to do-everyone needs a plan. After reading Martha Stewart's blog I found another one of her many useful checklists- this one is for the holidays and breaks it down week by week. So if you are feeling overwhelmed already- relax, this will help you map it all out!
Week 1-Buy cards, stamps and wrapping supplies. Write out gift lists. If cards are in, begin to address and send.
Week 2- Put together gratuity gifts for service people. Plan holiday menu, if you are hosting. Set up a wrapping station. Shop online and unpack decorations, inspect for damage.
Week 3-Start house cleaning, start with infrequently used areas. Gather the family together to pick out the tree and other greenery. Make and freeze cookie dough. Get any linens or holiday outfits to cleaners. Put up interior and exterior decorations. Trim the tree!!
Week 4-Clean rest of house, finish wrapping. Buy last minute gifts, set table and make place cards. Make any dishes ahead and prepare all pieces needed for serving the holiday meal.
Week 1 has started so I bet most of you have too and of course many of us have not- no worries, Christmas should not be filled only with stress and running around; My son keeps asking me to twitch my nose, because he wants to see how Santa does his magic and makes the reindeer fly, and when his eyes grow wide and a smile appears, I forget all about my tiny lists- so don't forget about the magic!
Tis' the season- almost. It is coming and whether you are giddy with excitement for the first snowflake and visions of trimming the tree or sick to your stomach thinking about all the shopping, cleaning, cooking, wrapping and endless cards to mail, exercise is key to keeping the stress at bay. We all have our routines and most of us hit the gym or the pavement regularly, but eggnog goes in and the gym is out! So before jingle bells starts playing on every station, get some back up in place- high tech style. There are some clever innovations that will give you an extra push right onto the treadmill. Then you can you focus at the mall and get thru the holidays, laughing all the way!
1. Text messages-a service will send you messages to remind you about healthy diet and exercise habits. Check out myhealtheme.com
2. Apps- right on your phone you can track calorie intake and log workouts! Look at lose it! and mapmyfitness, this will track your exercise progress and help you find running and bike routes.
3. Fitness Video Games- So many choices! You and your whole family can get into the groove together-on Wii, Playstaion or Xbox.
4. Websites and Social Networks- Sparkpeople.com is an online community that has free meal plans, lets you chart your progress, and receive feedback from fellow users.
As always, reach out thru email, Facebook or Twitter. Promising to meet a friend for a walk or class will always guilt me into putting on my sneaks, and then any project can be tackled- even Christmas!
