You may cringe when you hear Christmas carols before Thanksgiving, but now there’s no way around it: It’s officially December and the holiday rush is at a fever pitch. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are all this month, plus New Year’s Eve and all the chaos that comes with rushing to finish your 2024 projects (and it’s too late to finally get around to those resolutions you set on January 1 ?).
Needless to say, you’re busy, but it’s still worth making time to take care of your health and well-being, whether that means packing a nutritious ingredient into your favorite holiday dishes, moving your body or make other choices that are good for you. as you navigate the holiday party circuit.
Here’s your guide to living your best life this month.
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👐🏼Wash your hands. “But I was already washing my hands,” you insist. And while we trust that’s indeed the case, we also know that there’s always room for improvement – and there’s a reason why an entire week (psst: it’s December 1-7) is dedicated to increasing awareness about hand washing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds — about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” or recite the intro to Law and order twice – to prevent the spread or absorption of germs. And as Yahoo’s own health editor Rachel Grumman Bender has pointed out, drying your hands thoroughly is crucial because bacteria can thrive on wet skin.
🥣 Eat cottage cheese. Cottage cheese won’t win any beauty pageants, but honestly, it doesn’t need to. The curdled dairy option is low in calories, high in protein, rich in B vitamins and, when fermented, packed with probiotics that can benefit gut health. Need another push? December 30 is National Cottage Cheese Day (whee!), so grab your spoon and get started — or try one of these TikTok-approved recipe swaps.
❤️ Donate. GivingTuesday falls on December 3 this year and it’s a call to be generous when it comes to the charities you hold most dear. While financial donations to the charity of your choice are always welcome, there are other ways to give back: pick up litter at your local park, collect non-perishable items for your local food bank, help a neighbor in need, donate blood…get the idea.
🌨️ Watch out for signs of seasonal affective disorder. Gloomy weather and lack of daylight can put a damper on everyone’s mood. But when is the ‘winter blues’ a sign of something more serious? Since December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month, it is important to recognize symptoms of the form of depression known as SAD; these can include a lack of energy, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, weight gain and a tendency to oversleep, usually during late fall and early winter.
✏️ Complete a crossword puzzle. Did you know that December is a big month for crossword puzzles? December 8 is National Crossword Puzzle Day, while December 21 is National Crossword Puzzle Day. Celebrate one (or both) by unleashing your inner crossword (that’s a 14-letter word that, by the way, means “one skilled in creating or solving crossword puzzles”) and sitting down with a puzzle. It’s good for your brain health!
🧘🏻♂️ Streeeeetch. If you’re not loosening your limbs on December 11 (National Stretching Day), what are you even doing? Regular stretching can improve your mood, relieve pain, improve posture and flexibility, and much more. Here are some moves to get you started.
❄️ Make room for winter. The winter solstice begins on Saturday, December 21. The bad news: It will be the shortest day of the year (that is, the day with the least amount of sunlight). The good news: from this point on, the days will get longer, with more and more sunlight. In the meantime, consider it a good excuse to do what the Scandinavians do and practice hygge (or a similar cozy, cold-embracing trend).
⛔ Don’t fall for these holiday food myths. A recent survey found that 39% of people worry about eating too much food during the holidays. As a result, they follow bad advice, such as not eating all day in anticipation of a big meal, or detoxing after indulging in holiday treats. Experts say weight gain during the holidays isn’t something to worry about — and there are easy ways to enjoy your eggnog, cookies and other seasonal favorites without punishing yourself.
🍸 Keep those holiday cocktails under control. A glass of eggnog here, some hot chocolate there… the holidays can get pretty boozy if you’re not careful. If you want to be more conscious about your alcohol consumption And Still be cheerful and smart and consult these expert tips, like having a friend to drink mocktails with or limiting the time you spend at parties with open bars.
📋 Prepare those good intentions. First of all: you don’t to have to set a New Year’s resolution. But if you’re goal-oriented and like to have some benchmarks to keep you motivated, go ahead. Because January 1 will be here before you know it, take some time to think about what changes you want to make and why, and what steps (like daily benchmarks or getting an accountability buddy) can set you up for success. Need more guidance? Here’s what therapists have to say about sticking to resolutions (or skipping them altogether).
To do this month:
To eat: tangerines. Your favorite berries may be out of season, but tangerines – including satsumas, clementines and tangerines – are just getting started. Small, easy to peel and sometimes seedless, this citrus fruit (which looks like oranges but belongs to a different species) makes for a handy winter snack and a great source of vitamin C (which can help you beat a winter chill).
To get: yourself something. Gift giving can be stressful and disappointing (like when you’ve dropped hints about the new gadget you’ve been wanting to try, but end up with an itchy sweater that’s three sizes too big). If you’re able to, consider setting aside some holiday savings so you can treat yourself to what you really want this year — and take the pressure off gifts.
Watch: your favorite holiday movies. Revisiting beloved movies that you associate with the holidays can provide comfort, spark nostalgia and evoke all kinds of feel-good emotions, experts say.
