Good Health

Holiday Health & Happiness

By Cammy Dennis [cammy@ocalasgoodlife.com]

When making out your gift-giving list, remember to put yourself on it. Give yourself the gift of health. Make sure your holiday to-do list includes activities that engage in wellness principles.

Being well requires mindful attention to things that support health and happiness. Wellness is a proactive state of mind whereby you take deliberate actions to advocate for yourself. These actions can be physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, and vocational. Although this season affords us the opportunity to dive into the dimensions of wellness, there are often temptations that pull us off the path.

The stretch from Thanksgiving to the New Year typically means more time socializing and visiting friends and family. This increase in social and emotional wellness is one of the things that makes this time of year so special. Many studies demonstrate the relationship between social connectedness and longevity.

However, we should be aware that not everyone has friends and family nearby, or perhaps has lost a loved one. This can result in heightening feelings of loss and sadness. If you have this concern for yourself or someone you know, take steps to help build a network of social support.

“The old saying, ‘There is no place like home for the holidays’ is true but not always practical,” shares On Top of the World resident Ann Gensler. “Zoom calls, Face- Time during a meal or while opening presents, and even old-fashioned holiday cards are great ways to connect at any time or place.”

Also, physical wellness typically drops down on the priority list during the holidays. Seductive treats and more time at parties can make it very difficult to eat right and exercise. Nutrition becomes a challenge and shopping, socializing, and travels interrupt our regular exercise routines.

You may be surprised to know that the average weight gain over the holidays (Thanksgiving through New Year’s) is only 1.06 pounds. WebMD calls attention to this in “Holiday Weight Gain, the Big Fat Lie.” In this examination of seasonal weight gain, Dr. Jack A. Yanovski, MD, head of Growth and Obesity at the National Institutes of Health, explains that this is a “good news, bad news story.”

Although a one-pound weight gain does not seem like much, the trouble comes in when that pound is not lost after the holidays. These small, cumulative weight gains can result in big health problems. Staying active during the holidays is one of the best ways to help combat extra calories and allows you some wiggle room to indulge occasionally. Additionally, exercise affords you the benefit of coping with holiday stressors and improving the quality of your sleep.

Most of us have high expectations for happiness during the holidays. Happiness is the culmination of engaging in a variety of wellness dimensions that nurture body, mind, and spirit. In my studies of health sciences, I have learned that happiness needs to be cultivated. Realizing we hold the power to make decisions and take personal actions for our happiness can be very empowering.

One of the pitfalls of holiday happiness is that it perpetuates something called hedonic adaptation. Simply put, hedonic adaptation is when we desire to attain something that will make us happy (a new car, a new dress) but once we get that “thing” our happiness dissipates. This leaves us wanting the next thing and we keep acquiring more stuff.

Interestingly, experiences rather than things that boost happiness do not dissipate the same way. Because the experiences we have are novel and fleeting, they have a lasting impact on our happiness. Perhaps we should consider that this time of year would yield greater feelings of happiness if we root them in experiences not things.

Writer’s Note: Wishing Ocala’s Good Life readers a rich and rewarding holiday season. May you spend time with loved ones and fill your heart with moments that last a lifetime!

Cammy Dennis is the fitness director for On Top of the World communities and The Ranch Fitness Center & Spa. She lives the lifestyle she promotes and has trained for triathlons throughout the state, aerobics while living in Tokyo, and various weightlifting events.