“May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart!”
Eskimo proverb

The holidays are upon us.

A time of needed relaxation and more time with the people closest to us.

A time of stress and worries. A time of not all the joy you may have hoped for or been promised by upbeat advertising and movies.

It can be a time of mixed feelings.

So today I would like to share 5 powerful and timeless tips that can help you to make the holidays  – and 2022 too – a more joyful and peaceful time.

1. Slow down.

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.”
Lily Tomlin

First, slow down. Even if it may feel silly and if you have to force it a bit. Slow down your body, move and walk slowly.

Breathe slower and more deeply with your belly (and focus on doing just that for two minutes and see what happens).

Slow down your eating (this will not only help you to relax, it will also help you to not eat too much during the holidays since it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full).

Slow it all down and pay attention to what you are doing.

Be here now and focus on doing just one thing at a time.

By slowing down, by being here now, by not having your focus split between many things you – your body and your mind – start to relax.

2. Appreciate the little things instead of focusing on perfection.

“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.”
Winnie the Pooh

Daily happiness is to a large part about appreciating the small things.

If you just allow yourself to be happy when accomplishing a big goal or when everything lines up just perfectly then you are making life harder than it needs to be.

Instead, focus on appreciating things that you may take for granted.

Take two minutes and find things in your life you can appreciate now.

If you want a handful of suggestions, here are a few of the things that I like to appreciate around the holidays:

• All the tasty food.
• My health.
• My family and friends.
• That I have a roof and a warm home as the snow is falling and the cold winds are blowing.
• The beautiful wintery landscapes.

3. Give a bit of joy to someone else.

“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.”
Eleanor Roosevelt

This may sound like an empty cliche but it surely works. One of the best ways to become happier is simply to make others happier.

When you make someone else happy you can sense, see, feel and hear it. And that happy feeling flows back to you.

And since the Law of Reciprocity is strong there is another upside. People will feel like giving back to you.

Or like paying it forward to someone else.

And so the two (or more) of you keep building an upward spiral of for example positivity, of helping out, of cheering up and of lending a listening ear and support.

4. Focus on what is most valuable.

“You can never get enough of what you don’t need to make you happy.”
Eric Hoffer

“Joy is not in things; it is in us.”
Benjamin Franklin

Instead of focusing on a lot of things focus on what is most important and valuable to you.

If you still have Christmas gifts to buy then instead of giving away a lot of expensive stuff it may be better to give one thing that the person you are giving it to will truly appreciate.

Or maybe you could skip giving a physical thing altogether. And instead give away an experience that will become a special day and cherished memory for him or her or for the two of you.

However you choose to go about things over the holidays make it YOUR choices as best you can and not a bunch of shoulds that mostly make you feel deflated.

5. Just accept how you feel right now.

“We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.”
Carl Jung

Maybe you try some of the tips above.

And they still can’t help you to shake that negativity, worries or stress you are carrying around. I would then suggest that you just accept that the feeling is there.

Tell yourself: This is how I feel right now and I accept it.

This might sound counter-intuitive and like you are giving up.

However, by accepting how you feel instead of resisting it you reduce the emotional energy that you are feeding into this conflict or problem.

And it then tends to lose speed like a car that runs out of fuel.

Sometimes the problem or conflict will then become so weak that it just moves out of your mind.

By accepting what is you have now freed up energy and your attention so your mind can become more level-headed, open and constructive once again.

And you can see more clearly and take focused action towards a solution.

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Plan a memorable holiday party this year by supplying your guests with Christmas icebreakers.

These are questions designed to jumpstart conversations.

They help people in group settings get past any nervousness or uncertainty that they might be feeling. 

Holiday icebreakers save people from boring chitchat about the weather.

Just print out some pages of Christmas questions to ask and pass them out.

Your guests will soon have plenty to talk about.

67 Christmas Icebreaker Questions for the Holidays

Choose your icebreaker questions according to the nature of your party.

Some questions work better for family gatherings, whereas others are well suited for loosening up co-workers and their dates at a company party who may not all know each other very well.

1. Do you prefer a white, snowy Christmas, or do you want to celebrate on a beach with palm trees?

2. What’s your earliest Christmas memory?

3. Have you ever gone house to house singing Christmas carols?

4. Were you ever in the hospital on Christmas?

5. Did you ever get stuck at an airport while trying to get home for the holidays?

6. What was your favorite television Christmas special growing up?

7. What Christmas gift did you cherish the most as a child?

8. Tell us about your worst holiday gift ever.

9. If you could only have Christmas or New Year’s Eve off work, which one would you want most?

10. Which is better? Cash or actual presents?

11. What holiday food or drink do you like the most?

12. Was there ever a year when Christmas got ruined in your family?

13. What is the best last-minute gift that you can buy at a store on Christmas Eve?

14. Do you think the Elf on the Shelf is creepy?

15. Do your parents still have any of the Christmas ornaments you made in grade school?

16. What gift that you really wanted ended up disappointing you?

17. Do you spend too much during the holidays?

18. How is Christmas different now compared to when you were little?

19. Christmas music – do you love it or hate it?

20. Are you one of those people who leave up the Christmas tree for months and months?

21. On which side of the controversy are you concerning whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie or not?

22. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

23. When you were a child, did you ever believe that you heard or saw the real Santa Claus on Christmas Eve?

24. Have you ever lived through a natural disaster on Christmas, such as an ice storm or flood?

25. Fill in the blank: It wouldn’t be Christmas without ________.

26. Which do you like best: Christmas dinner or Christmas cookies?

27. Do you decorate your home: Not at all? The normal amount? Or WAY more than the usual amount?

28. Do you shop for gifts primarily online or at stores?

29. Do you love to hit the clearance sales after the holidays?

30. How often do you return your gifts?

31. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or an artificial one?

32. If you were visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, what would they say to you?

33. Who cooks Christmas dinner in your family?

34. Have you ever snooped for your gifts?

35. Did you write a letter to Santa Claus as a child?

36. Have you ever mislabeled gifts and given them to the wrong people?

37. What would a perfect Christmas be like for you?

38. As Rudolf, how much resentment would you bear toward the mean reindeer even after you saved Christmas?

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39. What would you do if you forgot to get a gift for someone close to you?

40. Have you ever stood in line overnight to shop on Black Friday? If so, what were you hoping to buy?

41. What was the worst thing that ever happened to you at a job during the holidays?

42. Would you wear an ugly Christmas sweater outside of an ugly sweater party?

43. What was the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever seen at a workplace Christmas party?

44. Do you want to travel for Christmas or stay home all cozy?

45. Is there something you like to do for the holidays but your family thinks is lame?

46. Do you know how to wrap a Christmas present, or does it turn out like a crumpled mess? Be honest.

47. What traditional Christmas food do you think is yucky?

48. What is something that you hate about the holidays?

49. If you could only have Christmas or Thanksgiving, which would you choose?

50. Does your family have a quirky holiday tradition?

51. Do you like to go to the movie theater on Christmas night?

52. Have you ever succeeded in getting a great present for someone hard to buy for?

53. Do you think that traffic gets extra stupid during the holidays?

54. What are you grateful for this Christmas?

55. Did you ever make a big sacrifice so that Christmas would be nice for your loved ones?

56. Have you ever made a Christmas present by hand?

57. Did you ever forget a present that you hid and then found it weeks or months later?

58. Have you ever helped someone in need on Christmas?

59. Would you rather buy a new car for Christmas or a great vacation?

60. As a little kid, were you distressed when Frosty the Snowman melted?

61. Have you ever made a gingerbread house?

62. Would you put reindeer antler decorations on your car?

63. Do you leave treats or gifts for the mail carrier and other delivery people during the holiday rush?

64. Have you ever been robbed during the holidays?

65. What is your best holiday memory?

66. What’s something that you like to do just for yourself during the holidays?

67. Has a particularly overindulgent Christmas ever motivated you to start exercising?

Get the Party Started

Many people at many holiday parties are well acquainted, but their spouses and dates might feel a bit awkward.

Like funny Christmas questions, icebreakers loosen people up and create a comfortable setting where everyone can share interesting opinions and memories. 

They create opportunities for shy or uncertain people to speak up. Icebreaker questions with a holiday theme are less intimidating for people than the standard tell me about yourself questions.

The subject matter is relatively safe and adds to the festive atmosphere that you want to encourage as the host.             

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The holiday season is officially in full swing, and with it comes the search to find the perfect gifts for your friends and family. In the midst of all the merriment and commotion, don’t forget to give yourself the most important gift of all: health! Today I’m sharing my top three tips to stay healthy during the holiday season. Keep reading to find out how you can feel “Merry & Bright” all season long…

Tip #1: Quench your thirst, first! Did you know that our hunger and thirst centers are right next to each other in the brain? Often, our bodies confuse thirst for hunger. To avoid this pitfall, drink plenty of delicious water. I like to make ‘spa’ water for myself and my holiday guests. To make this hydrating drink, fill a water pitcher with fresh lemons, limes, cucumbers and/or cranberries, and serve before and during your meal!

Tip #2. Stay mindful. This is not the time to skip meals then binge! (Nor is there any time that’s appropriate for that). The key to staying healthy is listening to your body. Pause for a moment, take some breaths, and check in. Are you truly hungry? Are you getting full? And are you in tune with your system? Let go of the idea that you ‘have to’ stuff yourself because it’s a special event. Indulge, enjoy the food, and then stop when you’re satisfied. The leftovers aren’t going anywhere.

Tip #3. Add healthy twists to classic favorites. There are so many delicious recipes that take holiday classics and remake them to taste just as good (if not better) and pack them with way more of the good stuff  (like veggies) and less of the not so good stuff (like saturated fat). Step out of routine and remake a recipe you think could use a little health boost – it just may become the new holiday favorite.

Speaking of adding a healthy twists to holiday favorites…I’m excited to share my holiday meal plan! This plan features 5 days of meals and snacks inspired by your holiday favorites. Click here to learn more about it.

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I love the holidays! But if you’re trying to lose weight, all the sweet, carb-filled holiday treats can sometimes add stress to your celebrations.

In this article, I’m going to share with you how to enjoy all the delights of the season while still staying true to your weight-loss goals.

First, remember that there’s no better time of year to remind yourself of why you want to lose weight in the first place. Your friends and family care about you and want you to succeed. They want you to be happy, healthy, and on your way to becoming the person you want to be!

Also, seeing your loved ones at these gatherings is a great reminder that the holidays are about so much more than the food.

Those delicious dishes and desserts are just tokens of the love you share with the most important people in your life. When you focus on what really matters, it’s not so hard to let a treat or two pass you by.

In fact, there’s no reason you can’t successfully lose weight (or at least maintain your weight) during the holidays.

But it helps to have the right mindset — and a plan — for getting through holiday meals and parties keeping your weight-loss goals intact.

6 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain:

1. Eat a filling breakfast and lunch

Don’t starve yourself before the big meal! You may think you’re “saving up calories,” but the hungrier you are when you arrive, the more likely you are to make poor food choices and wind up eating more than you might have otherwise.

Start the day with a healthy, satisfying breakfast and a reasonable lunch, so you won’t be ravenous by the time the holiday meal is served.

2. Avoid “grazing” before and after the meal

Whatever time your family typically sits down at the table to eat (our holiday mealtime is around 4pm) — hors d’oeuvres, snacks, cocktails, and even desserts are often passed around before and after the meal for guests to “graze” on.

To avoid overindulging, I set the time when I plan to start eating, as well as the time when I will stop. Then, once I get up and leave the table, I move on to other activities, such as reminiscing with grandma or playing with the kids. Just like I tell my clients — “Dinner and done… find other fun!”

3. Prioritize your treats

We all look forward to treating ourselves during the holidays, but all those temptations can quickly become overwhelming!

When I’m at a holiday party, I scan the entire table of food first and then choose the two or three that I want the most — the ones that are most likely to make the night feel extra-special. Then, I take my time and savor each bite!

4. How do you want to feel as you’re leaving?

Before even arriving at the party (and perhaps once again before taking your first bite), imagine how you want to feel when it’s time to leave. Stuffed like a turkey? Or happy, satisfied, and proud of yourself for keeping your goals on track?

You’ll be amazed at how powerful this mental exercise can be in allowing you to enjoy the gathering to the fullest without overindulging.

5. Be active

Try building a healthy activity into your day, whether it’s a hike or a neighborhood game of touch football. Last year, my family and I laced up our hiking boots and hit the trail before dinner!

If you’re giving gifts, think about toys and games that promote an active lifestyle. If you’re too old for toys (is anyone too old for toys?), then get out there and play with your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or even your pet.

6. Incorporate healthy food swaps

If I’m hosting the party — or even contributing a dish for the table — I like to share traditional dishes made using healthy food swaps designed to be every bit as filling and delicious as the originals.

Greek yogurt makes a creamy stand-in for mayo in dressings and pasta salads. Mashed cauliflower rather than potatoes for a healthy swap that still tastes delicious (for the skeptics, try half-and-half cauliflower and potatoes). “Noodles” made with veggies are another big hit in our house.

And for dessert, I serve cinnamon-spiced baked apples, either by themselves or topped with a little dollop of whipped cream, to satisfy apple-pie cravings.

Most of all, be sure to stay positive! If things don’t go exactly as planned, don’t beat yourself up. Just stay focused on your goal and the weight loss will follow. There are plenty of weight-loss days ahead! Meanwhile, together with the entire Beachbody community, I want to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.

Learn more about the weight loss program 2B Mindset here!

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