Written by: Ellen Kocher, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
This is the time of year when we typically read about how we should eat, drink, and party LESS to ensure our health and well-being through the holiday season and beyond. That does not sound very festive to me, so as a Health and Wellness Coach, I choose to suggest we do the OPPOSITE!
Read on for the seasonal relief you’ve been waiting for.
Why EAT MORE?
I don’t believe in diets. In fact, I consider DIET a 4-letter word starting with DIE – not great for well-being, nor yearend festivities.
I propose not trying to eat less but listening to our own body's wisdom to eat what we want, when we want, and to feel good about it. Not be good, feel good.
Does this mean over-indulgence? Yes, sometimes. However, if we truly listen to our bodies, and “over-indulgence” makes us feel less than good, maybe it just needs some minor tweaking (like eating a bit slower?) to fall back into our comfort zone.
This means there are no “good” foods nor “bad” foods, just choices that suit each of us. And, yes, the holidays are full of delicious, special choices. In terms of “healthy” versus “less healthy” options, I like to aim for an abundant 80:20 ratio approach which:
Liberates us from restrictive rules
Allows us to listen to ourselves more mindfully
Gives us more wiggle room to enjoy without guilt
Allows us to truly feel better
Gives us the time to do something wonderfully nourishing for the mind, body, and spirit — eat mindfully and joyfully rather than mindlessly in front of our screen, or un-festively guilt-ridden.
Why DRINK MORE?
Of course, hydration is essential for our bodies and it’s the reason we drink in the first place. Central heating causes drier interior environments during the winter in many areas of the world which can lead to increased water loss. So, staying adequately hydrated is especially important during the winter.
Drinking is a social custom – whether it be an alcoholic beverage, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate — stopping to take the time to sip means reconnecting with yourself and also likely sharing the experience with someone important to you.
Drinking alcohol is deeply intertwined with the development of human culture, from religious ceremonies to family gatherings, and the basis of many customs, including the holidays. Moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to more socialization and a few potential health benefits around heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. However, like food indulgences, drinking alcohol should be done mindfully.
Numerous studies have shown that teas and coffees can boost our immune system, fight off inflammation, and even ward off cancer and heart disease.
Hot chocolate contains flavonols, which are known to reduce levels of cholesterol. blood pressure. blood sugar, inflammation. risk of heart attack and stroke.
Finally, taking time to connect with somebody “over” a drink means we are prioritizing people over things like technology or work. Ensuring that your phone is off, not in your hand or on the table means you can truly focus on the other person. I cannot think of any better holiday gift than such undivided attention we so rarely experience.
Why PARTY MORE?
The holidays are a time many people associate with happiness and joy, yet research shows that many experience sadness or loneliness, some of which is driven by excessive social media use, mindless scrolling, and surfing the net. Too much time on our own can make us feel lonely and out of touch, so it’s worthwhile to make an effort to spend time with others and holiday time is the perfect occasion.
Spending quality time with friends or loved ones is good for the soul. Time spent with those we trust and that care about us is good for us all. Research shows that strong social ties are beneficial to our brains and improve:
Mental health, lightening mood, and increasing feelings of happiness
Brain health, attention, memory, and dementia, through stronger neural networks
The sense of safety, belonging, and security
The opportunity to confide in others
Keep in mind that not all relationships are created equal. Stressful interpersonal relationships can take a toll on well-being. Considering this and recognizing it over this festive period is especially helpful to mindfully manage our social interactions.
MORE means LESS
I am convinced that by Eating, Drinking, and Socializing MORE throughout the holiday season, we not only feed our minds, bodies, spirits, and souls, but we mindfully crowd out the technology-driven existence that dominates our lives the rest of the year.
I do not believe in digital-diets any more than food-diets and there is currently no solid scientific evidence that digital detoxes have any lasting benefits. However, tech time – like food, drink, and parties- needs to be managed as part of a healthy lifestyle. So, how about putting down our devices, and getting away from our screens with LESS TECH to make room to focus on FOOD, DRINK, and PEOPLE this holiday season?
As a gift to help you LESSEN your TECH and re-discover the magic of digital balance, download my 10 Digital Wellbeing Tips. Not only does MORE mean LESS, but LESS truly is MORE in the world of well-being.
And remember…
it’s not what we do between Christmas and New Year that matters most, but what we do between New Year and Christmas!
Happy holidays!
Ellen Kocher, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Ellen Kocher is an Economist and Certified Workplace Wellness Consultant who holds a master’s degree in Health & Wellness Coaching. Following 10 years as an Executive in Finance, Ellen made some major lifestyles change and has dedicated the past 20+ years to walking her talk through workplace wellbeing, promoting a holistic approach to eating, physical activity, health, resilience, and self-care. Ellen has coached hundreds of individuals and groups in dozens of organizations to make sustainable lifestyle changes empowering them to go from knowing what to do to actually doing it! Most recently Ellen’s work focuses on the 50+ demographic.
