Tips to practice balance this holiday season

So often during the holidays, we put off making changes to our habits, thinking we’ll wait for the new year to start fresh. We tell ourselves we can "live it up" until January, then dive into resolutions and big changes. But what if I told you it doesn’t have to be all or nothing? You can enjoy the holidays and still prioritize your well-being. By making small, mindful changes now, you can start building a sustainable wellness routine that will help you ring in the new year feeling even better.

Here are 5 tips to help you prioritize your wellness this holiday season:

1- Balance your plate and eat your veggies

It can feel like a challenge to eat healthy during the holidays, but trust me—it’s totally possible. You can enjoy the festive foods you love while also making mindful choices. Finding that balance might look like savoring your favorite creamy side dish in a smaller portion, with extra veggies on the side. Or swapping out traditional ingredients in your favorite recipes—like making a cheese sauce with butternut squash and nutritional yeast instead of milk and cheese. A tip I like to share with my clients is to fill your plate with color—aim for at least two veggies with each meal. Extra veggies provide fiber for your gut health, antioxidants for your cells, and help keep your blood sugar stable, so you can feel good all season long.

2- Move your body daily

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can often feel like there’s just no time to fit in exercise. But daily movement doesn’t have to be complicated or add more stress to your plate. You don’t need to hit the gym or take a fitness class. It can be as simple as going for a walk with a friend or family member, cranking up your favorite playlist and dancing around, doing a quick 15-minute full-body circuit at home, or stretching out with a few yoga poses while you unwind in front of your favorite show. Moving your body every day helps release stress, boost your mood, and increase your energy and mental clarity—so you can feel your best throughout the season.

3- Focus on hydration

Staying hydrated throughout the day is essential for your health. Drinking enough water supports digestion, cellular function, skin health, and more. If plain water feels a bit dull, try adding some natural flavor with berries, cucumber, lemon, or mint. A good goal is to drink about half of your body weight in ounces each day, and if you're having alcohol or caffeinated beverages, it’s even more important to increase your water intake to stay balanced and hydrated.

4- Be mindful of dessert choices

This time of year, sweets are everywhere! I encourage you to be mindful of the treats you choose at social events and get creative with healthier versions of your favorites. When making your own desserts, there are some easy ingredient swaps you can try: use grass-fed butter instead of vegetable oil (like canola oil), honey or maple syrup instead of granulated sugar, dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, and coconut or almond flour instead of traditional flour. You can even experiment with avocado as a replacement for oil or eggs in some recipes.

Enjoy your favorite desserts, but try balancing them out by increasing your vegetable and protein intake throughout the day, and keep an eye on portion sizes.

Speaking of ingredients, it’s also important to cook and bake with healthy fats like avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, and grass-fed butter, while avoiding highly inflammatory oils like canola, grapeseed, margarine, sunflower, and peanut oil. Your body will thank you!

5- Practice gratitude and self-care

Taking a few moments each day to focus on gratitude can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and shift your perspective in a positive direction. The holidays can bring extra stress—between social events, gift-giving, and everything else you’ve got going on, it can feel like a lot to juggle. That’s why it’s so important to take time for yourself, recharge, and avoid running on empty. When you take care of your own needs, you’ll be more productive, feel better, and have more to give to others without depleting yourself.

Try setting aside a little time each day to reflect on who and what you're grateful for—even express gratitude toward yourself! One idea is to keep a daily gratitude journal, followed by a few moments of meditation after you’ve written your list. There are also many free meditation apps that can help you develop a practice.

Self-care is also key, so make sure to carve out time for it each day. Some ideas: read an inspiring book, journal, move your body, treat yourself to a face mask, get outside, play an instrument, or dive into a creative project. Whatever feels good to you, make it a priority!