As you check off your list this holiday season, don’t forget two of the greatest gifts you can give yourself: time and care.
It is easy to neglect self-care in today’s fast-paced world, but the holidays especially challenge us to balance it all. Fortunately, local experts have realistic tips anyone can follow to simultaneously stay on track and enjoy the season.
Nathania Park is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and owner of NoBe Wellness Medspa whose top advice is to focus on these crucial areas: sleep, nutrition, and movement. “Wellness matters during the holidays because this season uniquely combines heightened stress, disrupted routines, and increased health risks,” Nathania explained.
To minimize these negative effects, prioritize sleep, be mindful of what goes into your body, and stay active.
“Quality sleep is the foundation of good health,” said Nathania. “Create a calming bedtime routine, keep your bedroom cool and dark, and aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.” Though this may sound simple, it makes a sizable difference in overall well-being.
Staying hydrated and fueling your body with nutritious foods is also key to maintaining wellness. “Proper hydration and nutrition,” Nathania added, “support energy levels, skin health, and overall body function.”
Nutritionist and owner of Synergetics Health and Wellness, Michelle Johnson, adds to those sentiments by reminding us about supplements as less sunlight in winter often means low vitamin D levels, incompatible with optimal health and avoiding seasonal illnesses. “I often suggest immune support during the cooler months, including zinc with full-spectrum vitamin C with bioflavonoids,” she shared.
Looking after yourself also means no shortcuts to buy yourself time or save money. “Some shortcuts can do more harm than good,” warned Nathania. Unregulated beauty products are risky because they are not tested and held to the same safety standards as those in professional settings. “Using untested or counterfeit products can lead to allergic reactions, skin irritation, or even long-term damage.”
Unless you have the necessary precision or training, common beauty procedures are best left for the professionals. “Procedures like chemical peels, hair removal, or microneedling require skill and knowledge. Attempting these at home without proper training can result in burns, infections, or injury.”
Even with safe at-home routines, it’s important to keep perspective on overall wellness and know when professional guidance is necessary.
“Bottom line,” says Nathania, “while some at-home beauty routines are safe, it’s important to avoid shortcuts that compromise your health. When in doubt, stick to simple, gentle care, or consult a licensed professional for guidance.”
Of course, caring for yourself goes beyond skincare, sleep, and supplements. Staying active is another key part of feeling your best, and it doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the gym. Matt Silva is a personal trainer and the owner of The Exercise Coach studio in Summerlin North, which specializes in short, high-intensity workouts aimed at building strength, boosting metabolism, and increasing bone density.
“Our belief is that effort, not time, is the key driver of fitness results,” Matt said. “Our philosophy favors strength-training and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which can be done in short, 20-minute blocks and yield significant results,” which can be helpful during this busy season.
His best advice for carving time out to stay active? Exercise early. Earlier sessions “ensure the workout gets done before holiday events and chaos take over.”
Consistency is critical, especially at a time when fitness is often an afterthought. “We teach that it is significantly less challenging and less time-consuming to maintain your current strength and metabolism than it is to rebuild them after weeks of inactivity and overindulgence,” added Matt.
Above all, remember to breathe! You've got this.
Proper hydration and nutrition support energy levels, skin health, and body function.