{"id":44990,"date":"2019-12-06T07:32:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T12:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/?p=44990"},"modified":"2021-02-13T10:41:23","modified_gmt":"2021-02-13T15:41:23","slug":"stay-healthy-all-season-long-holiday-wellness-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/stay-healthy-all-season-long-holiday-wellness-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Healthy All Season Long: Holiday Wellness Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thank you Epsom Salt Council<\/a> for sponsoring this post.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Staying healthy during the holiday season can be so challenging. Our family is often on the go this time of the year, juggling activities, holiday parties, Christmas programs, and gatherings with family and friends. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I love to have something fun and holiday-themed on the calendar, but it can be hard to keep health and wellness at the forefront when there are so many things going on. When the holidays are threatening to take over, it can be a challenge even to stop and read a book, let alone eat a healthy dinner and get enough sleep!<\/p>\n

Doing all of those things, though, is essential to getting through this holiday season healthfully and with your sanity intact! No one likes spending Christmas pounding cold medicine. I know this year I\u2019m focusing on punctuating our holiday fun with a hearty dose of elderberry syrup, fresh air, and balanced days. That means for every night we\u2019re out late at a holiday party, we\u2019re going to take a restful nap or cuddle up with some of our favorite books the next day instead of going out. For every sip of hot chocolate, we\u2019re going to enjoy a warm cup of tea. Here are some of my top tips for keeping wellness at the forefront this season, even when the holidays threaten to get you down!<\/p>\n

\"natural<\/p>\n

Natural Remedies for Colds and Flu<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As I\u2019ve talked about before, it often feels like germ season is a never-ending battle that parents are constantly fighting. I love all-natural, drug-free ways<\/a> to give germs the one-two punch and keep my children healthy and happy. When it comes to this cold and flu season, as I see the first signs of frost on the ground and my kids begin to wipe their nose with the back of their hands (seriously, get a tissue!), I\u2019m trying a new method for keeping these little cuties on the up and up. The goal is to keep them from having to take traditional medicines that can be full of harmful ingredients their little bodies don\u2019t need anyway. (While I am super appreciative for modern medicine, I like to exhaust all the natural options first.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"7<\/p>\n

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the best ways to keep you and your kids healthy, and fight back when the first signs of the cold or flu strike, is to start downing fluids. It\u2019s so important to stay hydrated<\/a> this time of the year. Not only is water<\/a> a top choice for guzzling all year long, you can also enjoy warm, soothing drinks that calm sore throats and help to ease body aches, like hot tea or warm water with lemon. The girls also love when I make them \u201cMom\u2019s special drink\u201d which is warm water with a splash of apple cider vinegar, a squeeze of lemon, and local honey- lots of honey<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Get Plenty of Rest<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Getting plenty of sleep is key to warding off germs, helping your body to battle them naturally, and to elevating your immune system during the time of the year when you need it to work its best. Make sure your little ones are getting plenty of rest, and take that tip yourself so that you can power through cold and flu season.<\/p>\n

Is there such a thing as too much sleep? I don\u2019t think so, especially as a busy parent who is always on-the-go! If you\u2019re anything like me, getting rest can be a challenge no matter what time of the year it is, but during the holidays, it can be even more so. Burning the midnight oil at holiday gatherings or prepping food for parties can lead to a serious afternoon slump the next day. But prioritizing rest is so essential so that you can handle whatever your day throws your way, and so that you can help to keep your immune system strong so that you don\u2019t face the dreaded \u201cS-word\u201d \u2013 SICK!<\/p>\n

So how can you get enough rest? Try napping when your little ones take a nap, instead of cramming in a bunch of other things while they are sleeping. I will set my alarm for 30 minutes, which means I typically get in a 20-minute power nap by the time I fall asleep. It\u2019s surprisingly invigorating! If I nap for too long, it has the opposite effect.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to have a solid bedtime routine, especially during the holidays, and one favorite part of my nighttime routine is taking a warm, relaxing bath with Epsom salt.<\/p>\n

Soak in an Epsom Salt Bath<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Why Epsom salt?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

An all-natural health and wellness product, it\u2019s long been touted by health professionals as a remedy for everything from high blood pressure to anti-anxiety to a muscle soother. I like to use it in my baths in the evenings to combat sore, achy muscles from working out, as well as to help relax me. Once I hop out of my Epsom salt bath, I feel ultra-relaxed and ready to get a good night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n

Some other reasons to try Epsom salt include:<\/p>\n