Party Season Survival: Top Tips For Navigating The Festive Parties

We’re all for going out and letting our hair down every now and again, but during the festive season it can feel like there’s a Christmas party in the diary every other day, and the copious canapes, excess booze and sleepless nights can start to take their toll! So to help you survive the party season without sacrificing your wellness, here’s our top tips for navigating the festive parties…

 

 

Pre-Party Prep

Think eating less during the day is a smart move to save calories or ‘make room’ for indulging in drinks and canapes later? Think again! Going to a party hungry is only going to lead to one thing – devouring the whole buffet! Plan to have a wholesome, filling lunch, and if you start to feel peckish again pre-party, try having something high in protein to keep you feeling satisfied. A smoothie, yogurt bowl or even a couple of protein balls on the go are all great options that’ll slow down your digestion and will help prevent that first drink going straight to your head!

 

 

Stay Hydrated 

Staying hydrated seems to be our top tip for everything these days; but it really does have a whole host of health benefits! Make sure to keep a bottle of water with you during the day and keep sipping regularly to prevent being dehydrated before you even arrive. Once you arrive at the party, try to get a glass of water with ever other alcoholic drink. This will keep you hydrated and help you to pace yourself, preventing waking up the next day with a dry mouth and an aching head.

 

Choose Alcohol Wisely

We all know alcohol isn’t great for us, but that doesn’t mean you need to abstain completely! Try to stick to clear spirits and low-calorie mixers, such as a gin and slim line tonic or a vodka, lime and soda. Cocktails, beers and large glasses of wine are fine every now and again, but they are often a very high-calorie option, which isn’t ideal when the party invitations start stacking up.

 

Eat Mindfully 

Being aware of what you’re putting in your mouth might seem obvious, but it is easier than you think to graze mindlessly when you’re standing next to the buffet having a chat! Think about whether you actually like what you’re being offered, and don’t just eat it because it’s there or because you feel rude saying no.

 

Hit the Dance Floor

Bring your usual Thursday night cardio to the dancefloor! Move away from the flowing drinks and endless canapes by getting grooving with your friends instead – you’ll have way more fun than if you just hung around at the bar and you’ll be getting your heart-rate up whilst you’re at it.. depending on how seriously you take those dance moves!

 

Don’t Stress

The festive season is meant to be fun, so you shouldn’t feel anxious about eating out, going to a few parties and letting your hair down! Try to get back on track after a night out and do what you can to look after yourself, but don’t stress if your 80:20 rule becomes more 70:30 or 60:40! Your mental health and happiness needs nourishing just as much as your physical health, and your usual healthy routine will still be there for you in January.