It’s the most wonderful time of year. You’ve got your office holiday party. You’ve got your significant other’s office holiday party. Then there is your family holiday party. Can’t forget about the in-laws’ party. Oh and this is the one time of year all of your friends will surely get together for some merriment. Also you can’t miss little Timmy’s holiday pageant which will be followed by the parents’ reception. With your calendar as booked as it is, it’s easy to let your exercise/fitness regime fall by the way side. All of a sudden you’ll be canceling trips to the gym so that you can make it to the next event. I still haven’t even mentioned Aunt Betty’s homemade Christmas cookies and all the passed hors d’oeuvres and the drinks.
If you let it things can get out of control very quickly. So here’s a few tips and tricks that you can use to get through the next few weeks without sacrificing all of the year’s hard work or to help you get the new year off to a great start.
- ENJOY YOURSELF: it’s easy to read those first two paragraphs and have anxiety start rushing in and make you resent having to go to all these parties. Listen, the holidays are about celebrating life and enjoying time with friends and family. Do that. If you’ve spent the whole year practicing good habits and consistently working out then enjoying yourself at a few parties is not going to undo that. The stress relief may even lead to some positive changes.
- BE PROACTIVE: you’re probably already receiving invites to all of these parties. You also probably know what your gym schedule is. Plan accordingly. The company holiday party is the same time as your favorite kickboxing class? Well when else does the instructor teach the class? If you usually work out in the evening, you may have to get up early to hit the gym in the morning.
- EAT AHEAD: if you’re hungry you’re not going to be able to turn down that bacon wrapped scallop or that bacon wrapped asparagus or that bacon wrapped anything anything else. Avoid bacon and other temptations, by eating you’re normal healthy meal before you get to the party. This will also help you to not get as drunk as quickly if you choose to drink.
- KEEP A DRINK IN HAND: just not an alcoholic one. If you don't want to drink, or drink excessively, keep a glass of water with lemon in your hand. Here’s the trick though, ask the bartender to put the water in a tumbler glass (for some reason bartenders like to shame those who are drinking water by putting it in a different glass). Why is this a good idea? Because at parties a common icebreaker is to ask “do you need a drink?”. Well water looks exactly like vodka. Now you don’t have to be in the awkward position of turning people down or explaining why you’re not drinking.
- SCHEDULE DEPARTURE: don’t walk in the party without knowing exactly when you’re going to leave. Then stick to that time. The longer you’re at the party, the longer you’ll have to fight the food and booze temptations. Eventually you will lose. Having a departure time will make sure you speak to whoever you want and need to in a timely fashion. When you know you have 20 minutes before you have to leave and you still have to search out your boss, you’ll skip the long wait at the bar.
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