Actress Meredith Thomas talks about how to balance your lifestyle during the holiday season.
It’s the most abundant time of the year. Visions of holiday gatherings, travel, and sweet and savoury baked goods dance in my head like the sugar plums I will try to avoid. How do I approach this time of year? Dare I say with moderation? Moderate abundance sounds a bit like blasphemy, doesn’t it? But to me, moderation is not such a dirty word.
You’ve probably heard a million times that you should not shop for groceries when you’re hungry. Well, it’s also a great hack for holiday parties. I drink a protein shake before I leave my house or on the way to events. Having a healthy protein drink – ones loaded with anti-oxidant berries and fruits – helps me to stick to only one or two of my mom’s famous crab hor d’ oeuvres instead of twelve when I’m famished! Trust me, you’ll also be glad you had a little something in your stomach when you make your way to the spiked eggnog and the rum balls that get passed around.
When I think about finding balance at holiday gatherings, it makes moderate exercise seem almost easy. I normally hit the gym five or six days a week when I am home in Los Angeles but for the holidays, I always travel across the country to see my parents on the East Coast. Finding ways to keep exercising in moderation seems like a better plan than missing important family time by leaving the house for the gym or just choosing no exercise at all. Instead, I look forward to long morning walks with my mom, catching up on our lives, while bike rides and beach time with my dad is the norm. When I was on location last year for the television movie, Fiancé Killer, I also discovered great apps that take you through exercises that use your own body weight and take only minimal amounts of space. These apps are great for exercising in cramped hotel rooms or your family’s holiday-decorated living rooms.
While you may not want to moderate your gift giving, there are still many ways to be generous and grateful without causing yourself anxiety. For me, that has often looked like New Year’s gifts or cards rather than Christmas. When my family and friends are bombarded with holiday gifts, a thoughtful alternative in the New Year is often more memorable for them and manageable for me. And though I’d really love to find the time to make homemade chocolate covered strawberries for everyone, that would cause me needless stress. Patronizing a local small business works better for me and really reduces the stress levels. Plus, it brings abundant happiness to everyone else involved.
Hope your holidays and the New Year bring you and your loved ones the same!
Watch for Meredith Thomas on TV’s A Christmas in Royal Fashion which premieres this holiday season on Super Channel Heart & Home.
