Four habits that will save your holidays

These small actions go a long way to preserving your energy, capacity, and joy

This issue features our NEW Made By Whole30 meals! Start the new year off with our fresh, delicious meals delivered straight to your door.

As we roll through the holidays, many of us can feel the stress creeping into our shoulders and neck. The shopping, the last-minute dash to fit all your meetings into short work weeks, the family gatherings and conversations, the kids out of school, the houseguests… it’s a lot, and this season can do a serious number on your mental and physical health.

I’ve survived the last few years of holidays virtually unscathed because I’ve leaned on just four keystone habits. Today, I’m passing them along to you in the hopes that adopting one or more will give you the energy, capacity, and grace to roll into 2024 with a more grounded, calm, and refreshed energy than you’ve seen in the past.

Not drinking right now

I know the holidays are just begging for you to YOLO your way through the dessert table and bar, but is that really serving you? My energy, sleep, mood, and capacity are all dramatically diminished if I drink even a little, which tanks my good cheer, my motivation to exercise, and my sleep.  What if you gave yourself the gift of just not drinking for a few weeks?

For one, this restores a huge amount of willpower back to you. No more “should I have one, should I have another one, it’s time to stop, but I don’t have to be up early tomorrow?” Put all of that executive function to work elsewhere, like planning your holiday menu or proactively setting boundaries with your in-laws.

Second, the physical benefits are undeniable. You’ll sleep better, your energy will be more steady, you’ll be more focused, and have more motivation to exercise, shop, go for a walk, or tolerate your family with patience and grace for one more night. (This alone makes it a worthwhile proposition.)

TIP: Don’t deprive yourself of the festivities! Mix up a pitcher of mocktails, playing "bartender" for anyone else who wants something mysterious and delicious without the booze. Or stock up on Humm Kombucha or another fizzy, festive drink so you always have something to cheers with.

Keep meals simple

During the holidays, you’ll have lots of opportunity to eat worth-it foods that aren’t normally on your plate. Your mom’s famous cookies, lasagna at the pot-luck, or the festive cupcakes on the break room counter may be totally worth it this season—but may also bring some undesirable consequences. Too much sugar leaves me cranky and tired, too much gluten leaves me bloated and broken out, and too much dairy may stick me in the bathroom for an uncomfortable amount of time.

Knowing those foods are going to be available and I’m going to want to enjoy them, I’m going to keep the rest of my daily meals simple, using ingredients I know work well in my system. I’ll make double-batches of Whole30 chili, eat simple ground beef and veggie skillets, and stick to dishes that fill me up and make me feel my best—so I can actually enjoy the parties, family visits, and special events the holidays bring.

TIP: I keep Whole30 meals in my fridge at all times, even during the holidays. I know I’m not going to want to meal prep, but I also don’t want to eat pizza and burgers from DoorDash every night. Keeping some Made By Whole30 meals or Whole30 leftovers in my fridge helps me feel great and skip the meal prep, cooking, and cleaning.

Made By Whole30 meals support your Whole30 and food freedom

We’re always looking for ways to make your Whole30 and food freedom easier, more accessible, and more delicious. Today, there’s a new way to support your health goals in the new year: our fresh delivered Made By Whole30 meals.

• What: A rotating menu of chef-designed Whole30 recipes, featuring local, seasonal ingredients and sustainable protein

• When: Delivered fresh to your door once or twice a week (based on your location), ready to heat-and-eat in minutes

• How: Enter your ZIP code to see your local menu (featuring more than a dozen meal choices a week); easily add, edit, or customize your subscription orders

Order as few as 6 meals a week (or as many as 12) for quick lunches, easy weeknight dinners, or effortless breakfasts. Portions are hearty, ingredients are varied (and many meals include a dressing or sauce), plus you can add on vegetable sides or bone broth to supplement your own cooking. Try Made By Whole30 meals today, and have Whole30 meals at-the-ready for your busy holiday week. (Or save this email and come back to it the week after Christmas, to stock up for Day 1 of your January Whole30.)

Protect your sleep

It’s tempting to burn the candle at both ends as we head into the holidays. You want to stay up late wrapping gifts, baking or cooking, and just relaxing after the kids go down, and you tell yourself “I can sleep in over the weekend.” But the weekend brings its own challenges (kids who wake early, last-minute errands, late-night parties), and then you’re back at your desk on January 2nd exhausted and bleary-eyed.

If my sleep takes a hit, the rest of my life quickly follows—cue the sugar cravings, crankiness, and energy roller coaster. Sleep is the foundation that holds all of my other healthy habits together, soo even if it means heading home from the party early, I’m hitting the sack at my usual bedtime. Studies show that a consistent sleep and wake time (ideally deviating by no more than an hour) is important for sleep quality. And even if you excuse yourself from your guests and “go to bed” to watch Netflix or read a book, the restorative alone time will do you good.

TIP: Naps are a legitimate way to replenish your sleep debt, so if you do have time off during the holidays, carve out 30 to 60 minutes a day to nap or rest quietly. (If you have houseguests, they’ll probably appreciate the down time too. And if they don’t, your kids can surely occupy them for a half-hour.)

Make time for movement

I remain committed to my daily movement practice over the holidays, mostly for my mental health. Some days, it means going to the gym alone before my day starts. Other days, it means Henry gets a few extra walks, or we head out for a group hike, or we all bundle up to go sledding. Maintaining your movement practice can feel grounding during a busy season, especially when the rest of your routine is out the window. You don’t have to lift heavy or run fast; it’s about devoting that hour of your day to something that feels good to you.

If you have guests, getting everyone outside and moving by taking walks after a meal is a great family bonding activity. It also helps you get a literal breath of fresh air if the house starts to feel claustrophobic, and lets the kids get some of their wiggles out too.

TIP: This is yet another opportunity to get some alone time during a busy season. (Can you tell I’m an introvert?) Take the dog for a walk (alone—try, “No thanks, I’ve got a podcast queued up and my headphones ready to go”), head out to the garage for a quiet yoga session, or slip out early for the gym, leaving a note: “help yourself to coffee, eggs, bacon, and veggies are in the fridge.”

Stick to the basics

I know there’s nothing groundbreaking here (were you hoping I’d have a magic formula?) but if you just focus on these four areas, I guarantee you’ll have more energy, vitality, and capacity to actually enjoy your holidays. (Technically, it’s just three things, if you stick “alcohol” in the “meals” category!)

Make small efforts to maintain the basics, and you’ll reap huge results for your mood, mental health, and self-confidence. Report back here on January 2nd, and tell me how these four holiday habits impacted your season!

XO MU