Santa, elf and happy kid all rolled into one

The holidays can be tough on your health and fitness life.  Cookies fall like rain, parties like scary clowns lurk around every corner and your to-do lists stretches out like a roll of toilet paper heading down hill.  Even people with solid time management skills struggle to get in enough exercise, stress relief and nutritious food during this time of year. Add to the situation, shorter days and inclement weather and you have the potential for feeling pudgy and grumpy underneath your reindeer sweater.I dare you to imagine a different kind of Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza morning, one where you can’t wait to open a very special present. This wonder gift has the power to boost your mood, health esteem and give you a compelling outlook for the coming year. And it is not available from Macy’s.What you need:

• A scrap of paper and pen
• A box (small or large)
• Wrapping supplies (festive if possible)
• A few uninterrupted minutes to think

Use your thinking minutes to come up with one or two goals that you can achieve between now and the holiday. Remember the best goals are achievable but challenging, meaningful to you and measureable. “Looking sexy” in only a Santa hat may be meaningful, but it is difficult to measure. Fitting into a smaller Santa suit may be meaningful and measurable, but only if you are in the ballpark already, since you only have a six weeks or so to improve your dimensions. Doing ten full push-ups, achieving 2,000 minutes of cardio, keeping a food journal everyday or running a mile in under 9 minutes are better ideas.

Once you’ve got your goals, write them down twice. One version is going to go up in a place you will see everyday like a computer screen or bathroom mirror. The second goal goes into the box, which is wrapped up all festive like, made out to you from you and put with the other gifts.

Now you start moving toward that goal. Read it every morning and decide what steps you will take to achieve it that day. If you need help breaking it down, find someone who can assist. For extra accountability email your goal to a friend and ask them to hold you accountable.  Keep your goal in mind as you face the holiday obstacle course; remember it as the cookies fly by and the invites roll in.  Your goals and self-care is as important as any other part of the season, so learn to say no and keep your holiday dream close to your heart.

Fast forward to the big day, when it’s time to open your special present.

If you have achieved your goals, or even made significant progress toward them, opening that gift is going to be a delight.  No material item will feel as good as knowing you followed through and didn’t give in to the holiday stress parade. When you open your “self-present” instead of feeling stressed, out of shape and out of control (like many of us do as the holidays culminate) you will feel calm and proud.  Feel free to use this opportunity to flex newly strengthened muscles, give yourself a high five or start thinking about your next goal.

Use this technique to keep your health at the top of your to-do list even when things get hectic and you will be guaranteed the best gift of all.