From Turkey to Tinsel

by Loey Werking Wells

All across American, in living rooms large and small, we will gather Thursday, moaning and groaning—probably with  pants unbuttoned—while the tryptophan from the 12 pounds of turkey some of us have just consumed, is making its way though our digestive system.  One holiday down, just a few more to face!  Before you shrug off healthy living to holiday excesses, here are ten things you could start doing to improve your physical as well as mental health during these post-feast moments.

10- Take a walk.  Bundle up Grandma, the dog, and the babies and head outside.  Taking a stroll around the neighborhood, looking at the fallen leaves, and catching a glimpse of others sitting down to their meal, is always a fun pastime.

9- Go see a movie, or rent one.  The funnier the better.  If you are one big ball of stress, having something to laugh at is highly under-rated for its calming effects.

8- Fall into Downward Facing Dog.  Yoga is a great way to loosen up your gut and take the cramps out of your legs after sitting at a table for three hours, and can be done with no equipment or fanfare.  Just bend over, stretch, and ahhhh. 

7- You are going to feel very sleepy.  Duh, yeah.  We know that.  You’re having a slow moment because of all the food coursing through your system.  The turkey and the carbs (mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, pies) are making your body home for the next few hours, and inducing something bordering on a stupor.  Roll with it.  If you don’t nap, close your eyes and envision calm, peace, gratitude and whatever it is that you need to get through the day.  Some folks call it meditating and it’s as important to good health as exercise!

6- Plan a holiday de-stress program. Do you always seem taken by surprise that Thanksgiving leads to Christmas and Hanukah? To office parties and open houses?  Yes, yes, I know you are busy, that the work load is monumental and the baby keeps crying all night (those of your with babies are excused, go take a nap).  But if you can, take the time to think about how you’d like to see this holiday play out.  Do you hate shopping?  I do.  But there’s no way around it for some folks, so instead of ignoring it, think about who you need/want to give to and make a list.  Then—if you’re the type who shops all year just to have stuff for the holidays—pull it out and see if you’ve magically taken care of things.  You may not have to do as much as you thought.  Maybe all the events tire you out.  I don’t know what to say about your kid’s piano concert—you really should go.  But can you pick and choose the rest of your invitations?  Sit down with your family, or yourself and talk about having a deliberate holiday, weighed as much with the things you want to do as much as the stuff you have to do.

5- Research those purchases.  Bone up on the most recent toy recalls—for lead paint, or other discovered dangers.  You don’t want to be giving a  potentially life-threatening gift, no matter how obnoxious the little kids act.  But try to hold off shopping until after November 23rd, the Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the most harried day of shopping in the year.  Buy Nothing Day (which is also the day after Thanksgiving) is a grass roots movement to steer Americans away from the frenzied materialism evident during this time of the year.  Get more information at http://www.adbusters.org/bnd .

4- Keep pests at bay.  Watch out for those leftovers harboring nasty bacteria.  Be sure to refrigerate your turkey leftovers in a timely manner and keep things well heated or cooled until they are served. 

3- Puzzle through something.  Okay, maybe you’re not feeling like mental gymnastics are possible, but working through a puzzle or playing a game can help keep your mind active.  The brain needs exercise as much as the body, especially for the young and the elderly, so don’t be shy about bringing out something that might make you think.

2- G is for Gratitude.  This day was not created as a sanctioned day off to watch college football games.  This is a day of gratitude.  It’s inspiring that Americans, in all their business and disdain for traditions, still gather their family and friends to spend what is essentially, just a day eating.  But it’s also a day about being grateful for what you have.  It’s mentally healthy to remind ourselves of at least one thing we are grateful.

1- Ignore all of this.  That’s okay.  Just sit and do nothing.  This is not another thing that you overachievers must to do.  Be perfectly relaxed; it’s okay to just sit back, close your eyes and imagine you are anywhere but where you are.  Or if you’re fortunate, open your eyes and enjoy the company of those you really like or love.