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ACE's Top 10 Tips for
Surviving the Holidays
The holidays can be a
joyous time of year
shared with family and
friends, but they can
also bring stress and
anxiety as we struggle
to keep up with
often-unrealistic
demands and
expectations.
That's why it is so
important for all of us
to relax and take good
care of ourselves.
ACE's top tips for
surviving the holidays
are great for increasing
your energy and reducing
your stress, this season
and all year long.
1. Take time for
yourself. Although
spending time with
friends and family is
essential, it's also
important to have at
least five minutes to
yourself to relax. Try
practicing deep
breathing exercise when
you feel stressed out.
2. Don't set unrealistic
exercise goals. Aim to
exercise 20 minutes a
day instead of an hour.
You'll be sure to get at
least 20 minutes of
exercise per day without
feeling disappointed if
you do not complete an
hour.
3. Enlist a friend or
family member to
exercise with you.
Walking and talking with
a friend can be a great
way to burn extra
calories and reduce your
stress level.
4. Create new, more
active traditions.
Instead of throwing a
dessert or cocktail
party, try snowshoeing
or ice-skating as an
alternate holiday event.
Play powder puff
football or build a
snowman.
5. Don't try to lose
weight or stick to a
restrictive diet this
holiday season. If you
enjoy your favorite
foods in small portions,
you'll feel more
satisfied. Trying to
stay away from certain
foods may leave you
feeling deprived, which
may cause you to eat
more than you intended
to.
6. Drink plenty of
water. Although the cold
weather may make you
less inclined to grab a
glass of water, it is
just as important in the
winter as it is during
the summer. Water helps
counter the dehydrating
effects of travel or
drinking alcoholic
beverages, and it may
also help satiate your
appetite since thirst is
often mistaken for
hunger.
7. Spread out meals.
Don't feel like you have
to eat everything at
once. Try eating dinner
early and then taking a
walk before sitting down
for dessert.
8. Don't overdo it with
alcohol or caffeine.
These stimulants will
only cause you more
grief in the end by
adding to your feelings
of stress. Try drinking
hot herbal tea instead
of coffee, and keep the
number of alcoholic
drinks to a minimum.
9. Don't aim for
perfection, and enjoy
the imperfections. There
is no such thing as the
perfect party or the
perfect decorations or
the perfect way to spend
the holidays. Don't set
yourself up for
disappointment by
placing unrealistic
demands on yourself.
10. Laugh. Laughing is a
great tension reliever.
It burns calories,
reduces stress and
usually means that
you're enjoying
yourself.
Happy holidays!
This ACE Fit Fact is
taken from ACE
FitnessMatters®
magazine. Want more
information like this
delivered directly to
your home? ACE
FitnessMatters, the
bi-monthly magazine from
the American Council on
Exercise® (ACE®), is the
source for the most
accurate, up-to-date
fitness information you
need to live a healthy,
active life. Subscribe
to ACE FitnessMatters
Magazine online or call
1-888-825-3636.
The American Council on
Exercise does not
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this website. ACE does
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generated from any
organizations that
advertise on this Web
site. Copyright 2003
American Council on
Exercise. All Rights
Reserved.
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