Staying Healthy During The Holidays in Retail.

If I've learned anything in my 2 years of retail management, it is that staying healthy is a must during the holiday season. The hours are long, the days are crazy, and there is little time to rest. We don't get weekends off, so having two days in a row off is a hot commodity, and taking care of yourself definitely gets put on the backburner. Last year, I think I finally perfected how to keep myself protected from germs, sleep deprivation, and the holiday blues.

Stay hydrated.

I'm lucky enough that we keep water bottles readily available for customers, so it is acceptable for us to keep water on the selling floor. I usually keep my Tervis Tumbler water bottle in the closet so that I can sneak some water between clients. I think we all know the importance of water in our diets, so making sure that we are hydrated at all times is a must.

Always have a stash of healthy snacks.

When things get crazy, there isn't always time for a proper break. My first year in retail I did not wise up and keep healthy snacks in our breakroom, so I was leaving work starving and stopping at the drive through on the way home. I have already started stocking my cabinet full of healthy choices that are easy to grab and go. I've got a box of Clif Bars (these are my favorite), mixed nuts, and at the beginning of each week will stock the fridge with apples, yogurt, and baby carrots.

Splurge a little.

All of the girls that I work with are super generous and always bring in fun holiday themed snacks. There is never a shortage of cookies, candy, or cupcakes around to tempt the tired, starving staff. While 95% of the time I skip the treats and head for my "cabinet" of healthy snacks, once a week I'll grab a cookie or cupcake instead. I mean, we all have to enjoy the holidays (responsibly, of course), right?

Get enough sleep.

This is so essential. I feel like sleep is at an all-time low during the holidays just because there is so much going on. I feel like we are all running nonstop trying to cram everything in, and sleep definitely is low on the priority list. While I know it is certainly not realistic to shoot for 8-9 hours a night, making sure that you get a minimum of 6 hours seems attainable. I know that I've started to turn off my television before I start my bedtime routine, and that helps me fall asleep much faster (and I generally can stay asleep all night).

Stay organized.

Working weird crazy hours may seem like a burden during the holidays, but, I've found that it is a blessing in disguise. If I make my holiday shopping list early enough, I can get my shopping done on my random days off (there is no one at the mall on Monday mornings, or Wednesday nights). By not having to push my way through crowds, and being able to take my time, I am much happier. Also, during these weird times, the sales people are usually able to help me and give me the personalized attention that makes shopping that much more enjoyable.

How do you stay healthy during the holidays?

Anyone else out there also working ridiculous retail hours!?

December Goals!

Working retail during the holidays is rough. The hours are insane, there are so many unhealthy temptations just lying around, and with tons of social commitments, sleep is definitely not a priority. I want to take this month to keep myself healthy, mostly so that I can make it to the end of the year without being deathly ill.

|| one ||

Christmas Shopping (and budgeting) done by mid-month.

There is no reason to leave Christmas shopping to the last minute, and I certainly have enough people to shop for. I have a rough list already made, so I just need to budget out the gifts and actually buy them.

|| two ||

S T A Y  H E A L T H Y

Pretty self-explanatory. I plan on pre-planning my meals at work, and am in the process of joining a gym. If I can combine that with getting somewhat regular sleep (no less than 6 hours/night), then I should make it to December 31st unscathed.

|| three ||

Get aggressive on the Half-Marathon training.

This is no joke. I have my flights booked, and I really can't look like an idiot (ha, in my tutu) with two of my best friends probably way more prepared than I am. Hopefully goal two (joining that gym) will motivate me more to move my butt than getting outside in these frigid temperatures.

|| four ||

Enjoy the holidays.

For the last 3 years, work has taken the fun out of taking a step back and actually enjoying the Christmas season. I'm determined to not be a Scrooge this year. I want to be excited about baking cookies, decorating the house, watching Elf incessantly, spending time with my family, and wrapping gifts.

My November goals weren't so bad. Here's how I did with those...

|| one ||

Establish a Routine.

Eh. I have different routines based on which shift I work, but I have definitely been better about getting to bed at the same time each night, and waking up around the same time each morning. 

|| two ||

Read 3 books.

CHECK!

I finished "How to Eat a Cupcake," read "Catching Fire" for a 2nd time, and just finished "Divergent," also for the 2nd time. 

|| three ||

Save half of each paycheck.

CHECK!

I have double in my savings account than I did at the beginning of the month! Yay for being a smarter shopper!

|| four ||

Christmas shop early.

Well, I have a list, but I keep checking it and checking it and checking it before I commit to buying anything. There are just so many fun presents that I want to buy, and I have to decide what makes the most sense.

How did you do on your goals?

What goals do you have for December?

November Goals.

October was an epic fail at reaching any sort of goals that were set. I can blame it on going on vacation, working crazy hours, finally having a social life again, but that still doesn't change the fact that some of these things need to get done. I mean, I'm running a half marathon in February, and I can barely run 2 miles straight. Not okay.

After September, I think that my October goals were unrealistic. I seem to think that just by putting them on the internet, that will generate the motivation to actually achieve them. Clearly, I am wrong about that. Putting them out there just makes me feel worse when they're not done.

This month I want to focus mainly on doing things that make me happy. Last summer while I was doing Weight Watchers, I was happy. I was refreshed, energized, and able to work harder than I ever had before. November is back to basics.

|| one ||

Establish a routine.

It only takes two weeks to get into a routine, and I need to start easy. Getting in bed at a decent hour and reading for a while will make me sleep much better. With more sleep, I'll be able to wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day.

|| two ||

Read 3 books.

In October, I read 3 and started a fourth. I find that I sleep so much better after only 30 minutes of reading per night. I've got a long list of books on my "to-read" shelf on GoodReads that I'd love to make a dent in!

|| three ||

Save half of each paycheck.

With the impending holiday season, and hopefully a move in the near future, there is no reason to be spending a ridiculous amount of money on unnecessary things.

|| four ||
Christmas shop early.
With Thanksgiving falling so late this year, I have a feeling that the holidays are going to creep up really fast. My goal for the first half of the month is to make a list of the perfect gifts for the fam, just so that I have enough time to get them all together and wrapped by Christmas.

What are your goals for November!?