2025 is a few days away, and in the spirit of the end-of-the-year Christmas and New Year traditions, merriment and celebrations have filled the air. The festive season comes with a lot of traveling, festive meals and increased social activities. But even if you’ve taken a break from school, your body is probably working hard to keep up with the festivities. Here’s how you can prioritize your health, even in the bliss of the holidays.
Remain Mindful of the Harmattan
Christmas in West Africa is synonymous with the cold, dry and dusty period that’s Harmattan. As expected, health issues like asthma, bronchitis, allergic reactions and other respiratory diseases come with the season. Nobody wants to spend the holidays nursing a cold and down in the dumps so t’s important you keep yourself healthy by:
- Drinking enough water serves to replenish the fluids lost to the dry air. Staying hydrated also moistens the respiratory airways reducing the risk of allergic bronchitis or an asthma attack.
- Considering the weather in making your choice of outfit. Warm clothes in the cold mornings and less thick clothes later in the day is your best bet for comfort.
- Using masks in dusty environments especially while travelling to reduce exposure to airborne pathogens and fine dust particles that can irritate the respiratory tract.
- Applying lip balms to avoid cracked and dry lips. The delicacies won’t taste as good if you’re manuevering with the pain of cracked lips. A simple dab of vaseline works excellently well. Don’t forget to moisturise to enhance that holiday glow.
Managing Nutrition
The Christmas/ New Year season is a time for celebration, togetherness, indulgence, and is often centered around delicious meals shared in harmony. However, the abundance of rich foods can make it challenging to maintain a balanced diet. Many of us can identify with the fatigue and digestive discomfort resulting from poor dietary choices at this time.
But you can bask in the joys of the season and indulge while maintaining healthy eating habits by making mindful dietary choices, that do not compromise your well-being:
- Relish festive foods, but avoid overindulging in rich, sugary treats. Moderation prevents consuming more calories than the body needs and effectively reduces the risk of weight gain. You don’t want to put on all the weight you’ve been keeping off the whole year.
- Stay mindful of portion sizes. Smaller portions are the smarter choice.
- Keep healthy snacks like nuts and fruits on hand to curb unhealthy impulse snacking.
- Remain mindful of food allergies and intolerances to avoid severe reactions.
Rest and Catch up with Loved ones
Amidst the bubble and merriment of the period, it can be easy to forget that the most important aspect is the reunion of families and friends. Whether it’s family gatherings, parties, or catching up with old friends, the joy and relief that come with traveling from different places to celebrate and bond together cannot be overstated. So:
- Take time off the stress of academics or work to engage in social interactions that will enhance your emotional well-being, and reduce stress and anxiety.
- Healthy relationships can promote a sense of belonging and curb feelings of isolation or depression which can be easy to succumb to, especially if you’re spending the holidays alone. So, call that relative, send a message to that old friend and try to stay merry.
As we wrap up 2024 in merriment and transit into the new year, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key. Not only does it make you better prepared to manage the demands of the season, it also makes it easier to actually commit to those New Year resolutions. Have a beautiful Christmas season and a prosperous New Year!
Boyede Boyejo