• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • about
  • Pug Partners
  • contact/pr
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Runs With Pugs

ok, the pugs don't run, but we do

  • race reports
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Link Ups
  • instagram Landing Page

The Latest

race report: florida striders memorial day 5K (5.29.03)

we did it: summer vacation

it’s time for may runfessions

You are here: Home / Uncategorized / 5 ways to maintain a healthy mindset during the holidays

5 ways to maintain a healthy mindset during the holidays

November 12, 2021      11 Comments

Learning to maintain a healthy mindset during the holidays is absolutely critical to finishing the year strong. Does this include sticking to you fitness routines and regularly scheduled physical goals? Absolutely, yes. But it also goes a bit deeper.

healthy mindset during the holidays

Personally, I love the holidays. I am invigorated by the celebrating, decorating, cooking, eating, and events. I am a willing participant in all the jingle bell rock. However, I know the holidays can be a time of sadness, darkness, and anxiety. They can be chaotic, full of stress, grief, and resentment. How can we deal and maintain a healthy mindset during the holidays?

Take Care of Yourself

First and foremost, you won’t be prepared to be part of the battle of the “most wonderful time of the year” if you’re not in fighting shape. Drink water. Get enough sleep. Eat nourishing foods. Follow an exercise routine. Read and listen to music. Create a meditation ritual. Remember to breathe and care for yourself. It’s the first step to dealing successfully with the rest of the madness.

healthy mindset during the holidays

Don’t Get Caught Up

It can be easy to caught up in the whirlwind of activities, events, and consumerism. I’m here to tell you to shut it down, until after the new year or even indefinitely. We are all different in our ability to consume the world of social media, but if you are feeling vulnerable, it’s ok to give yourself a break. Log out of your accounts or remove the apps from your phone. Take the time to connect with yourself, your immediate family, or those who bring you joy in the moment. Giving yourself this permission will make things so much easier. Promise.

healthy mindset at the holidays

“No” Is A Complete Sentence

Period. Full stop. When things get overwhelming, you can (and should) say “no.” You don’t need to explain, and you don’t need to justify. “No” is enough. Can’t handle the neighborhood cocktail party? Just say “no.” Not up to family dinner with your gaslighting uncle? “No.” It’s the right thing for your mental wellbeing.

healthy mindset during the holidays

Set Your Boundaries

Boundaries are SO incredibly important this time of year, and we must believe that we are worthy of both setting and sticking to them. Don’t be afraid to make the decisions to protect yourself and those you love most. Did your mother set family dinner right at baby’s nap time? Kindly let her know you’ll be late, after your little one has a chance to sleep so that everyone can enjoy their time better. Is your cousin inviting his racist sibling to their holiday gathering? Feel free to take a pass – you have the right not to be subjected to that kind of ugliness. Does your parent tend to make passive aggressive (or blatantly aggressive) comments about your appearance/weight/parenting/relationships? Don’t be afraid to let them know that you won’t be tolerating it, and that if they start up, you will be leaving. Yes, it can be scary, but it gets easier and you’ll feel better about yourself if you stick to your guns.

healthy mindset during the holidays

Be Gentle With Yourself

No matter what you are going through, just remember to be gentle with yourself. There’s no need to get down on yourself if you want to hide away from the world with a cozy blanket and a good book, stay in bed for a day, or just excuse yourself from people for a bit. Those who love you best will understand, support you, and will be there when you’re feeling more social again. You deserve nothing less.

healthy mindset during the holidays

How do you maintain a healthy mindset during the holidays?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday, our new linkup!

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun? 

fit five friday

Grab our graphic and share the love!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle D. says

    November 12, 2021 at 12:37 pm

    Great post! I love the whirlwind of the holiday season, but it can feel like too much sometimes. These are all great tips – I especially like No is a complete sentence!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      November 12, 2021 at 11:33 pm

      That’s one of my favorite things. We don’t have to be all things to all people.

      Reply
  2. Coco says

    November 12, 2021 at 12:48 pm

    Now that my kids are gone, my holidays are pretty simple — maybe too simple! This year my daughter will be with us but my son hopes to be on his honeymoon if travel conditions permit. And there won’t be office holiday parties this year! So, any holiday things really are things I want to do — put up a tree, bake cookies, etc.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      November 12, 2021 at 11:33 pm

      I love doing those things. Even when I lived alone, I always decorated and baked. It makes me so happy.

      Reply
  3. Deborah Brooks says

    November 12, 2021 at 12:52 pm

    Learning how to set boundaries and saying no without feeling guilty is one of the best things I have done for myself. It is not easy but it is worth it for my own sanity

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      November 12, 2021 at 11:26 pm

      YES! It’s so important.

      Reply
  4. Darlene says

    November 12, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    We do not go all out. No office parties now that I am working from home. Just a few with friends.

    I think we are skipping family gifts. We all need nothing and buy what we want. Instead give to a charity and spend time together. Go out to a nice restaurant. At least that’s what I’m suggesting now that the kids are grown.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      November 12, 2021 at 11:26 pm

      I really love getting gifts. And giving gifts. I don’t know why. We do buy our own things, but wrapped things are fun.
      I love volunteering and giving back to charities!

      Reply
  5. Chocolaterunsjudy says

    November 12, 2021 at 9:59 pm

    We definitely don’t feel so much pressure since we don’t have human kids & we’re Jewish.

    I can say, though, when you’re in caretaking mode it is important to take care of yourself — but also very difficult to do.
    Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…The Trouble with Positive Splits + . . .My Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      November 12, 2021 at 11:19 pm

      It is one of my greatest challenges.

      Reply
  6. Kimberly Hatting says

    November 12, 2021 at 11:33 pm

    Saying “no” is one of my downfalls…in that I seldom ever say it. My big stressor during the holiday season, unfortunately, is my mother. She kind of has the attitude of entitlement, and hardly ever offers to do much with either Thanksgiving or Christmas. I am more than happy to host all the family gatherings (I do have a better-sized house for it, and I am 30 years younger, LOL), but it’s frustrating to have so much indifference.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

well, hello there…

bio
Welcome to Runs With Pugs. My name is Jenn and this is the story of my love affair with running and finding myself through fitness. From C25K to marathon, from triathlon to SUP, from broken leg to the recovery journey... I'm sharing it all. I'm a wife and mother of one, living in NE Florida, in love with travel, adventure, and food. Oh. We have pugs and a hedgehog, too. Thank you for joining us! We're glad to have you along for the ride!
Follow on Bloglovin


Save 25% on your ROADiD order here

Pinterest

find what you’re looking for

recently

  • race report: florida striders memorial day 5K (5.29.03)
  • we did it: summer vacation
  • it’s time for may runfessions
  • our top tips to care for runners’ feet
  • one week until summer vacation

Facebook Likes

archives

Footer

disclaimer

I am not a doctor or medical professional, nor do I play one on the internet. This blog reflects my personal experiences on my own fitness and running journey, and the processes that work for me. Before you begin any exercise regiment, please consult your physician.
Team Bears Bocce Battlestar Galactica made it to t Team Bears Bocce Battlestar Galactica made it to the third round of the 2nd Annual Bocce Fest, benefitting @stronglikesteve!

This is always such a great community event, centered around an incredibly inclusive event and with proceeds going to provide awareness, community outreach, education, advocacy and funding for organizations and individuals caring for adults with intellectual and developmental differences.

Founder @steph_sanalila does such a wonderful job with this event, making a fun environment for players, creating volunteer opportunities for local students and honoring the memory of her brother.

Visit https://www.stronglikestevefoundation.org/about for more info on how you can help!

#boccefest #bearsboccebattlestargalactica #worldgolfvillage #worldgolfliving #bocce #stronglikesteve #bethechange #makeadifference
The pug side eye side eye. @lunanleonidas #pug The pug side eye side eye.

@lunanleonidas

 #pug #sweetlunapug

 #pugpuppy #puglife #pugsandkisses #pugbaby #pugsofinstagram #pugstagram #grumbleinc #grumble #pugstagram #pugworld #carlino #thetomcoteshow #dogstagram #petstagram #pugoftheday #pugsdaily #pugstyle #904dogs #keelysafternoontea #pugfeaturedaily #pugclub #dailybarker #woofpackbros #woofpackbros4life #woofpackhotties #woofpackkitties #woofpackfamily #dogsconnectingtheworld
Drinking in that sunshine for sure! It was a bea Drinking in that sunshine for sure! 

It was a beautiful morning that turned quickly into a beautiful day. Sundays are hard because they are immediately  followed by Mondays, and Mondays are hard.

Lots to catch up on this week! April is chock full of holidays, birthdays, days off, and events, so let’s get to it!

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
About this morning… I was up and out early to d About this morning…

I was up and out early to drive to Flagler Beach for the #Missionpossible5k.

It was a small, well organized event, with an easy-to-follow course (the last mile was almost exclusively an ocean view), with great shirts and swag.

I was really pleased with my performance, and even more pleased with this beach sunrise. I’ll share more on the #RunnersRundown on Wednesday, so stay tuned!

Where did you run or race this weekend?

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Oh, hello long sleeves. I’m here for it. So goo Oh, hello long sleeves. I’m here for it.

So good to stretch the legs today. I was super sore after a @runsmartofficial cross training session last night, and needed to just get out there and let the fresh air work its magic.

What are you up to today? I really need to take a moment with my calendar and get some plans locked into place. 

#running #streakingwiththecoolkids
He’s gonna get it, one of these days. 🍌 @lu He’s gonna get it, one of these days. 🍌 

@lunanleonidas 

 #pug #sweetlunapug

 #pugpuppy #puglife #pugsandkisses #pugbaby #pugsofinstagram #pugstagram #grumbleinc #grumble #pugstagram #pugworld #carlino #thetomcoteshow #dogstagram #petstagram #pugoftheday #pugsdaily #pugstyle #904dogs #keelysafternoontea #pugfeaturedaily #pugclub #dailybarker #woofpackbros #woofpackbros4life #woofpackhotties #woofpackkitties #woofpackfamily #dogsconnectingtheworld #cheesetax
Check out those blue skies! I got to sleep in AND Check out those blue skies!

I got to sleep in AND take advantage of some cooler temps. It really didn’t warm up until my last mile and that was just fine.

I feel like this month and next are really just flying by. So much is going on, and I want so badly to enjoy it all, including the crisp, sunny days where we find them!

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Kind of a meh day. I got in some walking miles and Kind of a meh day. I got in some walking miles and some balance and strength work through @runsmartofficial.

Tomorrow will be cooler and more productive for sure!

#running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Happy Monday! I don’t know about you all, but y Happy Monday!

I don’t know about you all, but your girl is TIRED. It is so hard to roll out of bed some mornings. Ugh. 

I managed (finally) and banked six miles in some gross humidity. And now it’s time for some self care and then back to work.

Also. We have somehow acquired a pecan tree? Any tips on the growth and care of this would be greatly appreciated!

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Sunday fun day! Just a short walk to start the da Sunday fun day!

Just a short walk to start the day and work out some stiffness. Some days, my ankle just doesn’t want to cooperate 🫤

I have been making graphics and content all day for a client, and now I’m about to do hair and makeup for a little event. Wheee! 

This week is going to be BUSY! There’s a lot of changes to the regular routines (nails, a digital learning day, after school and weekend programming) and I have a race on Saturday and bocce ball on Sunday! 

Who else is ready to dive in?!

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids

Copyright © 2023 · Wordpress Theme by Hello Yay!