Monthly Health Feature – December 2008
- December Health Topic - Save Time, Energy, and Money to Reduce Stress this Holiday Season
- Personal Wellness goal ideas - For use with Well On Our Way program
Health Topic: Save Time, Energy, and Money to Reduce Stress this Holiday Season
Article by: Ashley Blume, UI Wellness Fall 2008 Practicum Student
The situation with the economy has forced many of us to really cut our budgets this holiday season. That doesn’t mean that we need to sacrifice any traditions we have kept so long. Here are some useful tips and alternative ideas to help you save time, money, and energy so you can enjoy the season stress free.
Gift Ideas:
- Use Magazines or Newspaper
Instead of purchasing wrapping paper this year, use magazine pages to wrap small gifts. If you have something bigger, use the comic section (or any section for that matter) of the newspaper as gift wrap. Need some filler for gift bags? Shred the magazine or newspaper and use that as your filler
- Send e-cards
Instead of handwriting all of your Holiday cards this year send a card online. Not only will it save paper and help the environment, it will also save you money on cards and postage!
- Personal Dinners
Is there a certain dish you make that you know everyone enjoys? Give it as a gift. Make your dish in a reusable container so that your family can freeze it until they decide they want to eat it. Not only will they get to have the dish they love, it will make an easy meal some night when they don’t have time to cook!
- Favorites in a Jar
Purchase the materials for your favorite cookies or soups and place the correct measurement for each ingredient in a mason jar. Attach the recipe, put the lid on, and wrap it with a bow.
- Healthy Treats
Get a jump start on your New Year’s resolution by encouraging your co-workers (or even family members) to bring in healthy treats to pass around this year.
Entertainment:
- Check out the lights
Drive around your city or the city you are visiting and look at the lights and decorated houses. (Use LED lights if decorating your own house)
- Rent movies/books
Visit your local library close to the holiday season and check out your favorite holiday movie or book to enjoy with your family. Don’t have your favorite? Check out something new that you have never seen before.
- Decorate together
Have a family gathering to help decorate, wrap presents, and bake cookies
- Sit around the fire
Make some hot cocoa, grab some warm blankets and sit around the fire sharing stories about the season with each other
Resources:
http://www.mambosprouts.com/enewsletter/hen/dec06/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/11/holiday_gifts_f.php
Personal Wellness Goal Ideas - updated monthly!
Physical Activity goal
- I will continue to stay physically active for 30 minutes at least 5 days/week to help prevent holiday weight gain.
Nutrition goal
- I will use at least 5 healthy substitutions in my holiday baking this month.
Environmental goal
- I will wrap 5 gifts with newspaper or magazine pages instead of purchased wrapping paper.
Stress Management goal
- I will create lists for gift/grocery shopping this holiday season and stick to them.
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Professional Development goal
- I will get a full night’s sleep (6-8 hours) for 5 nights a week.
- I will create a specific budget for holiday spending.
Personal Development goal
- I will make bedtime a priority, 5 nights a week.
- I will not wait until the last week to get my shopping done (or I will try to not go over my holiday budget).
Mental Health goal
- I will take 5 minutes for myself each day this month to relax and take a break from the holiday stress.
Other Wellness goal
If there are multiple goals in one area that you would like to make additional goals, this is the place to add that goal.
Are you setting daily, weekly or monthly goals? If so, reward yourself by participating in the Well On Our Way program.
Some Monthly Content Adapted with permission from:
National Wellness Institute
1300 College Ct. · PO BOX 827
Stevens Point, WI 54481-0827
800-244-8922 · 715-342-2969 · Fax: 715-342-2979
Email: members@nationalwellness.org · www.nationalwellness.org
© 2005 National Wellness Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.