December ’ s Goal Social Connectedness Staying connected has been shown to improve mental and physical health! This Holiday Season, spend time with friends and family to maximize your holiday enjoyment. Tri Fit’s 12 Healthy Habits

For many of us, the holidays mean family gatherings, getting together with friends, and participating in community and workplace activities. Such occasions are an opportunity to check in with each other, exchange ideas, and perhaps lend a supportive ear or shoulder. Social connections like these not only give us pleasure, they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet, and not smoking. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends, and their community are happier, have fewer health problems and live longer. Social Connections

Make the most of your Relationships Around the holidays, it is easy to get caught up in the whirl of social activities and lose track of the deeper purpose of providing an opportunity for people to come together. 1.Choose activities that are most likely to bring joy to you and the people you care about. 2.Delegate or discard tasks that eat into your time, or do them together with family or friends. 3.Eat and drink in moderation to enhance your feelings of well-being and increase your enjoyment of social gatherings. 4.Plan a social get-together after the busy holiday season. Good friends and family members will be happy to see you at any time of year! strong-relationships

Stop the Stress Before it Starts! The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests — stress and anxiety. And it's no wonder. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining. It ’ s important to stop and regroup to avoid becoming overwhelmed. With the following practical tips, you can minimize the stress that often accompanies the holidays and maximize your enjoyment of the festive season! 1.Acknowledge your feelings. If you have experienced a loss or you can't be with loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness and grief. It's okay to express these feelings. 2.Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events for support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and form new friendships. 3.Be realistic. Adjust your holiday expectations each year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals can change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. 4.Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they fall short of your expectations. Set aside grievances and address them at a more appropriate time.

5.Stick to a budget. Plan your budget for gifts and food shopping before the holidays and stick to it. Instead of buying an avalanche of gifts, why not donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange? 6.Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup. 7.Learn to say no. Saying “ yes ” when you should say “ no ” can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity. 8. Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, appetizers or drinks. 9.Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, will help you refresh and re-energize. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring your inner calm. 10.Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, if you find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep or face routine chores, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

Track a Techy Time-out Personal relationships and social connections can be nurtured with more one-on-one contact and less ing, texting, and Facebooking. Commit to a time out over the holidays by turning off your phone. Take the 7 to 7 for 7 Challenge! Turn your phone off from 7pm to 7am every day for 7 days. Then re-assess. Could you continue to do this every day? How about 3 days a week or maybe on the weekends? Try to survive without the use of your phone, and see how much more time you have to give to your friends and loved ones. Use this tracker to help you in the 7 to 7 for 7 Challenge: Week DayOff at 7pm? (indicate time if different) On at 7am? (indicate time if different) Success? Yes or No Comment on today’s challenge Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Want to really challenge yourself? Go for 30 days! Or make this your New Year ’ s Resolution for 2015!