Happy Heart Over the Holidays

It is time for 6 weeks of holiday for me, summer holiday to be exact, living in the southern hemisphere it makes for our summer holidays. This means loved ones, beach days, and lots and lots of good food. I have spent a lot of 2023 working on my heart health, among other things.

I am being careful to not undo that hard work over this festive and holiday season. These are the things that I am making a conscious effort to follow for the upcoming holidays.

Keeping eyes on my goal during the holidays: A healthy heart

Alcohol-free vacation

Usually, there would be a steady flow of celebratory drinks during this time. Summer cocktails and bubbles while dancing to the music of the season. Over the last year, I have stopped drinking socially in a bid to sort my heart health out. While I was not a heavy drinker before, I have almost totally cut it out.

This year we will be having mocktails, homemade ice teas, and lots of water.

Healthier food choices

Usually over this time of year, we will make use of food delivery and takeaways more often than not. I spent the year cooking and planning and making sure that I ate well, and my family did too. So it is easy to think that taking a break is deserved - so let's get takeaways.

So there is new a game plan, as I do not want to gain any weight, like I would usually do over this time. The plan is to order pre-made healthy meals that I will stock in the freezer. The types that I can just pop in the oven and add a side, like a salad.

This way I get to catch a break from preparing and cooking, and still eat a mostly healthy meal. I will also be sure to make sure that there is enough fruit and berries and nuts available for snacking. We will make some healthy frozen popsicles to keep sugar and trans fats down.

Mental health matters

Keeping my mental health in check is going to be added to my list of things to do over the holidays. I plan on taking time out to check in with myself and meditate. Thanks to my ADHD I am yet to master the art by myself, so I use guided meditations to stay focused, and fill my mind with good vibes and thoughts. This is something I am doing first thing in the morning and before I go to sleep at night. I find my mental health more peaceful when I do this. I have also arranged a therapy session for just before the holiday and one just after.

Staying active

While we need to rest, it will be important to stay moving. Again, I have made a lot of effort to stay active and keep my steps up by walking for my heart health. This has made a such big difference to my health and everyday life that I will be sure to keep it up.

We have planned some walks in the botanical gardens, walks in the park and at the beach, and going swimming almost daily. Plus we plan on going for a hike or 2. There will be less hibernating in front of the TV over the holidays and much more living outside. So I am choosing to rest while being active. I am resting from the usual day to day humdrum.

We will be making space for real rest days in between these activities. These rest days will be made for movies and and books and naps.

Managing heart failure and the holidays

Are there certain things that you keep in mind during the holiday season to keep your heart health on track? Share ideas, tips, or experiences with us in the comments section.