Holidays mark an important time of the year. Each person has their own traditions and ways to celebrate. And to brighten the holidays, we can all take steps to celebrate healthier and safer this year.
The CDC recently posted an article on 12 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season. The article highlights ways to make your and your loved one’s health a top priority this season. This blog focuses on just three of these important tips to celebrate the holidays this year:
- Slow the spread of COVID-19 – First, make sure your holiday plans include ways to protect yourself and others from the virus and its new variants. Get your vaccine and booster as soon as you can. Click here to find a vaccine. Remember that people with a condition or weakened immune system may not be fully protected (even when fully vaccinated), so continue to take all precautions recommended by the CDC: Continue to wear a mask if you are in public and maintain social distance from others who don’t live with you. Avoiding crowds and testing if you feel sick will also prevent unwanted spread.
- Manage stress. With the holidays comes a lot of stress. You can feel overwhelmed with financial stress or from having to navigate hard conversations with friends and family. To make this holiday season healthier for you, make sure you give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, or out of control. According to the CDC, some of the best ways to manage stress are to find support, connect socially, and get plenty of sleep. You should also remind yourself what is truly important during the season– relationships matter more than material objects. Instead of feeling pressured to spend on gifts, use the holidays to reconnect with friends and family and strengthen your support network!
- Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive. Did you know that November through January are some of the most dangerous times of the year on the road? Because people report drinking more alcohol over the holiday season, drunk driving is a big concern over the coming months. This year, choose to not drink and drive and help others do the same. If you do drink, make a plan to get home– rely on a sober driver or taxi. Taking this seriously will help protect yourself and others on the road.
For more tips on staying safe this holiday season, listen to this short holiday health podcast or read CDC’s article on healthy holidays at: https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/holidayseason/index.html.
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