Winter Holidays are the magical time of the year. This time brings a lot of fun activities like preparing and eating meals, delicious desserts, spending time with loved ones, and mingling with friends and family. This year the holidays might look very different due to the pandemic. Even though the holiday gatherings might be cozy and some even virtual, the holidays are the time when we stop paying attention to our health. The holidays have a way of throwing off our routines. This holiday season its more important than ever to pay attention to your health and fitness routine. So how do you stay healthy during the holidays?

Making health a priority during the holiday season is easy. Just a little planning and effort will go a long way. Here are five tips to stay healthy this holiday season.

Make Time for Exercise

Even though you won’t see your extended family this year, the stress of sending out gifts and keeping everyone happy can take a toll on you. Working from home and having your daily routine all scrambled up will not help ease the stress either. Plus, it’s cold outside, you have decorating and meal planning to take care of. It’s an understatement to say that neglecting physical activity during the holiday season gets very easy. It’s essential to make time for exercise. Even if you cannot get in an hour workout session, try to get in half an hour of workout or get in a 20-minute quick HIIT workout. Exercise will boost endorphins as well as feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, which will help you relax. Moving during the holiday season will help you manage the holiday stress and keep you healthy.

Drink Plenty of Water

Research shows that water accounts for 60% of our body’s total weight. To keep this percentage, we have to consume water. It’s essential to stay hydrated in the winter months when you might not feel thirsty. Consume plenty of water. Sugary drinks such as eggnog and punches, which pack on calories, are not a good option. Instead, drink water and unsweetened drinks like ice tea. If you drink alcoholic beverages, try to alternate with a glass of water in between your cocktails.

Plate Your Food

This holiday season, make sure you plate your food. Avoid snacking from the bag while watching movies or eating straight from the tray. Sit down with your plate and enjoy your holiday meal. Being fully present and appreciating your food will not only help you savor the food, it will also allow you to have a satisfactory feeling of being full. Turn your plate into a colorful fiesta, plate as much of the rainbow as you can. Orange citrus fruits, bright-red tomatoes and peppers, purple eggplants and blueberries, and dark leafy greens are all filled with essential nutrients.

Practice Portion Control

Enjoy the festive foods you like to eat. Eat dessert and enjoy your drinks. Yes, I said enjoy it all, but do it in moderation. Take small portions of the comfort foods. Use smaller plates to eat your entrées. In a Cornell University study, subjects who were given the larger bowls served themselves 31% more than those who were given smaller bowls. Cynthia Sass, a nutritionist, suggests memorable visual cues for awareness of how much of a food to plate. For example, a golf ball-sized portion of nuts, a thumb-sized portion for olive oil, and a tennis ball-sized portion of fresh fruit.

Log in Eight Hours of Sleep

It’s the holidays, but it doesn’t mean that you throw your sleep out the window. Aim for seven to eight hours a night. Try to be consistent with your bedtime. Practice good sleep hygiene, like keeping your room dark and more relaxed for a good night’s sleep. Listen to calming music can help you wind down and get in the zzz’s.