Is it even possible to make the holidays happy and healthy?

Nine ideas to help you stay sane and well this holiday.

I used to write an email series leading up to the holidays called the “Holiday PREboot” (preparing for holiday challenges instead of repairing or “detoxing” after the holidays). Between Halloween and Thanksgiving readers received daily emails to help them prepare for the inevitable challenges of holiday eating, tricky family time, and the self- and culturally-imposed pressure for perfection.

In this article, I’ve consolidated some of the tips from the PREboot email series in hopes they might help you stay healthy—mind and body—this holiday season.

When I help my clients prepare for the holidays, my approach is pretty simple: do what’s best for you and your family, but don’t forget the you part of that equation. If that means declining certain holiday foods or letting yourself enjoy some of your holiday favorites, please do what works for you. Enjoy the holiday, as much as you can, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Let go of the things that are out of your control.

Some holiday challenges I hear year after year:

I always feel pressure from [insert family member] to eat [insert holiday food].

There’s just too much to do.

I feel like I can’t say no to [family member] when they pressure me to have another [drink or dessert].

I’ve been doing so well with [fill in health-promoting habit], but the holidays always throw me off.

I don’t even like [insert holiday activity], I don’t know why we always do it.

Whenever I try to share that I’m trying to [eat healthier], [insert family member] gives me a hard time.

My guess is that at least one of these quotes resonates with you. If so, read on for a few ideas to help you navigate healthfully through the holidays:

Nine tips for a healthy and happy holiday:

1. You are the only person who can make your holiday great. I’m not talking about making it magical or “perfect” for your family, friends or anyone else. I mean making it enjoyable for you. A great holiday doesn't mean everyone is happy, smiling and peaceful the whole time. A great holiday can simply be a shift in perspective.

2. You can eat whatever you want. Whether you want a big salad, a few Christmas cookies, or a second (or third) helping, you can eat it. Give yourself the freedom to enjoy any holiday food favorites or to decline foods that seem forced upon you.

3. You can't control what other people do, say, or how they act, but you can prepare yourself to respond when things don’t have a Hallmark holiday ending. Anticipate challenging conversations and make a plan for how you might respond. Keep in mind that politely opting out of one is A-OK.

4. Make sure what you’re doing is something you or your family will actually enjoy. If you’re doing it because “everyone is doing it” or you’re trying to impress your social media friends and followers, first check in with yourself and/or your family before forging ahead. Don’t decorate the sugar cookies just because you’ve always done it. Don’t do it because you feel like you “should.” Do something because it will bring joy to you or your people.

5. Roll with resistance. Accepting that you’ll inevitably experience some challenges this holiday will help you shift your perspective when things inevitably don’t go as planned. When we roll with resistance, we won’t butt up against the reality we’re facing, we’ll leave some space to adjust and be flexible.

6. Schedule some movement. If you’re like me, you live by your calendar. Schedule a few times on your phone when you can take a walk or sneak in some yoga, a run, or a workout. I realize the holiday schedule isn’t always in your control, but my guess is you’ll be more likely to exercise if you add it to your calendar now. Don’t forget to turn on your alerts!

7. Let yourself rest. With all the effort you’ve put into your holiday season, please find some time to truly rest if you can. I realize this may not be easy to pull of, but if you can plan ahead or ask someone for help, if needed, please gift yourself some down time.

8. Set realistic expectations and ask for help. I won’t ever discourage you from trying to maintain newly established habits, but a modified version of your workout or diet might have to do until you can get back to your regular environment and routine. And, ask a trusted family member or friend who might help you sneak in a workout, go on a walk with you, or help you decline your uncle’s 5th offer to have another drink.

9. Set yourself up for success. If success means making life easier by buying the dish at a restaurant or grocery store instead of making it from scratch, please do that. If success means ensuring you’re getting in some movement everyday, then plan for any barriers that might pop up. If success means making sure you have a food option that fits your needs, then bring a dish that you know you can eat and enjoy.

I hope one or a few of these are helpful for you this year, and I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.

I’d love to hear from you! Please share any thoughts or questions you have in the comments below.