For the Americans, Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away. For everyone else, this guide will serve as preparation for the rapidly approaching holiday season… which comes with work parties, celebrations, family feasts and ramped-up drinking which can not only challenge your limits but can also hurt your heart.

Wait, what?

Yes, you read that correctly. Holiday Heart Syndrome, a term coined in 1978, is a condition brought on by overindulging in alcohol, salty and fatty foods, caffeine and stress, causing a short circuit in the heart’s electrical rhythms, typically in healthy people without a history of heart disease.

The opportunities for excess and stress are plentiful, and this guide will help you navigate the holidays with more ease.

Set your intentions

How do you want to feel during the holidays? At that potentially-triggering family gathering or work party? How do you want to feel after the holidays?

Get crystal clear on this image, and then work backwards. In order to feel and embody those qualities, how much should you be drinking or eating? What kinds of drinks, foods or substances should you avoid altogether? How many drinks (if any) will allow you to follow through on your intentions? Create a plan and write it down.

Plan your alternatives

It’s one thing to say “I don’t want to drink as much this year” or “I’m not going to eat the whole pie or my weight in candied yams (my personal fav)” but without alternatives in place, these intentions can fall short.

What tasty non-alcoholic drink can you bring instead? Now’s the time to search recipes and stock up on ingredients. Same goes for healthy treats. Bringing healthier alternatives with you to a party or event can ensure that you will have options on hand. *See below for some of my favs.

Start your day the healthy way

Try to stick to your morning routine as much as possible. For me, when things get busy and the season of temptation is in full-force, I know that realistically I’m not going to be eating 100% healthy all the time. And that’s okay. What makes me feel even more awesome is when I’ve started my day with my water and lemon juice, green tea and then green juice or green smoothie ritual.

During the holiday season I make an extra effort to stick to my morning routine. It eases my mind to know that I’ve started my day giving my body a boost of vitamins, minerals and alkalizing foods.

Arrive and assess

When you first arrive at the dinner party or holiday event, do a quick survey. What are the healthy alternatives? What beverages are on hand that are not alcoholic? Go ahead and pour yourself one of those first (or the one you brought). Think about what you will enjoy eating a little later on. When you are hungry, make yourself a plate. Remember, eating will also help you stick to your intentions around your alcohol consumption.

Allow yourself to indulge

While sticking to your intentions is important – so is giving yourself permission to indulge. You deserve it!! Deprivation is no fun, and is likely to cause bingeing behaviours or for your to unnecessarily beat yourself up. Tis the season, so make sure you enjoy it, mindfully.

Avoid stress

Yeah, the holidays can be stressful, no doubt about it. Family or work obligations, expectations from our significant others, temptations left right and center, the list goes on.

Take stock of your stress management techniques and start practicing self care, now. Book a massage, have relaxing baths, listen to a guided meditation to unwind or prepare for an event – in one word: chill. You deserve it and it’s an essential component of your holiday thrive guide.

Also – consider doing something totally revolutionary and politely declining any invitation that doesn’t make you feel more than awesome. Is it really worth it to attend every single event, especially if it’s likely to derail your wellness plan, or your mental health?

What is your favourite strategy for thriving during the holidays? I’d love to know. I’ll be updating this Holiday Thrive Guide as the season progresses and would love to shout out your favourite tip!

Some of my favourite healthy alternatives:

Drinks: play on holiday themed flavour combinations such as cranberry, apple, pumpkin pie, ginger and more. For a collection of easy and amazing cold and hot holiday drinks, click here for Martha Stewart’s favourites.

Food:

  • Hummus offers healthy fats and protein and can keep you full longer.

  • Roasted vegetables cut lengthwise can be a great snack to bring and can also accompany the hummus.

  • “Candied” carrots, yams or sweet potatoes can be made with a small amount of maple syrup and butter (these vegetables are already sweet and a little sweetener goes a long way). These root vegetables have a grounding effect and the slow release complex carbs will help you feel full longer, and won’t cause your blood sugar to spike.

  • Pro tip – studies have shown that cinnamon can help reduce glucose in the blood and prevent those spikes in blood sugar. Adding some of this lovely spice to your holiday food or drink will help steady the possible yo-yo effect that comes from too much sugar or alcohol, reducing cravings and crashing.