7 Holiday Hacks- Traditions With A Twist

In a lot of ways, when it comes to the holidays, we may be on automatic pilot. We do the same things. Eat the same foods. Fall off the healthy lifestyle wagon. Some holiday hacks that will give our traditions a twist, can still keep the spirit alive and well (and even improve it!)

7 Holiday Hacks-Traditions With A Twist

Christmas Lights In Your Neighbourhood

Nothing quite puts you in the Christmas spirit more than seeing Christmas lights. Think about going for an evening stroll in your neighbourhood to see all the color magic out there! Your local newspaper, news station, radio station or social media may even be able to direct you to the best neighbourhood areas for lights. Make it a date to go with family or friends to go see the lights. Park the car and do some walking. Wear some LED Christmas lights as “decoration” and keep safe out there! You might be one of the attractions on the route! Start the season off right with one of the holiday hacks you’ll keep coming back to!

Healthy Appetizer Party

Are you in the holiday spirit and want to have a party to celebrate? Consider keeping it really simple with a healthy appetizer party! A super easy holiday hack! Veggie and fruit platters are typically always a hit at parties. Think about creating individual servings of veggies in small festive decorative glasses with dip in the bottom of the glass! How about fruit kabobs in Christmas colors? Create a veggie or fruit platter in the shape of a Christmas tree. Use different color fruits or veggies for decorations.

We all may like to enjoy some alcoholic beverage, but who’s to say it wouldn’t be fun or even delicious to try a non-alcoholic creation? Perhaps a punch for even a lightened up version of eggnog (minus the rum).

One of my favorite sites for ideas for Christmas appetizers is EatingWell. They have some excellent ideas that can bring your Christmas appetizer party up another level! Appetizer parties are a real change from the ordinary when it comes to holiday entertaining. You have a chance to interact with your guests and it creates some conversation pieces as people compare their favorite dishes. Who says healthy has to be boring? Think outside the box and your guests will thank you!

Setup a Christmas Fit Challenge

When we think about the upcoming holiday season, we sometimes have this glimmer of dread. All the food and all the commitments! How about creating some commitments that center around our health and yet still maintain our Christmas spirit? There are community fundraisers like runs or walks that get us out exercising and raising money for a good cause.

Have you ever considered a lunch time fit challenge with your co-workers? Commit to walking on your lunch break or even on coffee break to get those steps in and stay fit. The accountability factor is there with your coworkers all depending on each other to keep going with it.

These ideas don’t take that much time and it gets you exercising to help keep your weight under control and a good source of stress relief. Consider an exercise challenge over the holidays. An excellent holiday hack!

Girl’s Night In Christmas

Nothing speaks to holidays more than just getting together with family and/or friends. How about a “Girls Night In”? Talk about a holiday hack! This really is a holiday tradition with a twist! How about getting together and get some Christmas wrapping done-a Christmas Wrapping Girl Party? Get caught up on everyone’s plans while you knock the Christmas wrapping off your list. Do you and your friends have common crafts you do? Scrapbooking, journaling, quilting, making gift jars, bath bombs or scrubs for Christmas gifts? Not that we need much of an excuse to get together, but its so much fun to craft together isn’t it!

What about a TV night? It seems everyone these days loves to watch the Hallmark Christmas movies. Why not get into the spirit and enjoy a good Christmas movie with friends. Any shopping channel enthusiasts out there? Maybe a night in with some shopping channel bingeing will be fun to watch, and also finish off your Christmas shopping list without stepping into a store. Whatever indoor night your choose, how about having some healthy snacks to keep you going or having a healthy potluck? Sounds fun to me! Where do I sign up? :o)

Go To Christmas Craft Fairs

Have some holiday fun with your friends and family while getting in some steps for the day! To add to the walking, think about the bicep curls you get with carrying around shopping bags! Christmas craft fairs are unique because these are gifts you are unlikely to find in most traditional stores. People really appreciate home made gifts too and you may find just the right gift for that hard person to buy for on your list!

Also, when you buy from a vendor at a Christmas craft fair, keep in mind you’re buying from a small business owner. These craft fairs are also good for local business. Support your craft fairs and vendors by attending and making some purchases.

Christmas Concerts

Music is a big part of Christmas. Christmas music is timeless and a traditional part of the holidays. Often there are special events in your town or city that are just geared to holiday cheer! Take some time for yourself and build some memories by attending a Christmas concert. It could be at your kids school, the local concert hall, and community churches.

Have you ever thought about Christmas carolling in your neighbourhood? Make an evening of it. This seems like a tradition that has kinda fallen off the wayside. Why not make this mainstream again? If you know of some people in your neighbourhood who don’t get many visitors, think about stopping by. Nursing home or retirement facility visits. It takes so little to make someone’s day and something they will remember for a long time. Express your holiday spirit in song! Get your friends and family together and go carolling!

Support Local Charities For Christmas

In reality, the holidays are not so much about what we receive, but of what we give. In our much commercialized society, we have sooo much. Way more than we really need, to be truthful. Let’s flip the switch on this and develop a new tradition. It is sad to know that there are people out there who do struggle on a daily basis. What would Christmas mean to you when you are giving more than receiving? There are many outlets to help us achieve just that. Think about toy drives, food drives, sponsor a family for the holidays. Salvation Army kettle drives.

Reduce your clutter and donate to your local charity to help those more in need. A good fall cleanup can really help stock shelves for these organizations. Consider helping out at a local shelter or mission. Help serve meals or donate needed personal supplies and clothing.

These acts of kindness will mean so much and you will gain so much more for yourself “inside” than anything that you receive physically. A very positive holiday hack!

Get Your Holiday Hacks List Download

Do you intend to make your list and check it twice? Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder of some fun and helpful ways to spend “our” holiday time. Download the “Holiday Hacks-Traditions With A Twist” List. Keep it somewhere useful and out in the open where you can be reminded it. On your fridge. Put it in your planner. Tack it to your family bulletin board. Make a commitment to try some of these holiday hacks and let me know what you have done this year to create your traditions with a twist! Happy Holidays!

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