This post is sponsored by Nature’s Way® Joint Movement Glucosamine®. ModernMom has been compensated for this post, but all opinions are my own.

The holiday season is well upon us which means beautiful lights, peppy holiday music, shopping, family, friends, food and, let’s face it, frenzy! Holiday madness can throw your life off-balance; parties with scrumptious food and delectable drinks can be hard to resist, major to-do lists can cut into sleep and crazy schedules and travel get in the way of the gym. But with a little conscious effort you can survive and even thrive over the holidays!

Follow these six tips and you will feel healthier, happier and ready to spread holiday cheer.

1. Go to bed!

Exhaustion is a mood breaker and contributes to feeling frazzled and stressed. Did you know it could also make you hold onto extra pounds? Bodies metabolize fat during deep sleep phases…and it’s been shown that getting adequate sleep will help keep your metabolism burning at a healthy pace! More energy + less fat storage = happy mama!

2. Meditate.

Cortisol is the stress hormone that your body releases when under “attack,” which is how we often feel when we are online shopping until midnight, wrapping presents at dawn, trying to meet work deadlines, and addressing dozens of holiday cards! Meditating for even 10 minutes in the morning (like during carpool, or whenever you can) will keep you feeling more relaxed and ready to meet the challenges of the day.

3. Don’t skip breakfast.

Don’t forget to eat breakfast. Skipping meals leads to overeating and bad choices later in the day. Oatmeal with fruit is quick and a healthy choice. Along with breakfast, I’ve been taking Wellesse® Joint Movement Glucosamine® from Nature’s Way®. This supplement has key ingredients to support staying active plus promotes healthy bones and muscle function.* Any extra boost to help maintain my active lifestyle during the holiday frenzy is welcomed!

4. Cut up veggies, fruit and low-fat meats.

If healthy food is readily available in your fridge then better chance you’ll eat it! Fill up a bag of veggies on the way to the mall, toss some fruit in the blender with non-fat Greek yogurt for a healthy smoothie, or fold some turkey slices on a few whole grain crackers for a quick snack. All of these make perfect snacks for you and your little ones when you are on the go or at home.

5. Find time for workouts.

Trust me, even if you are so overwhelmed by everything you need to do, or are traveling, you can spare 30-45 minutes to exercise. It’ll be worth it. If you are staying in a hotel you can use their gym or take a walk and enjoy the town’s sights and sounds. You can bring exercise bands in your suitcase or search YouTube for exercises to do with no equipment. When there’s a will there’s a way and your mind and body will thank you! During your workouts, your body will appreciate that you’ve been taking Joint Movement Glucosamine, mine sure has! You can try a free one-ounce sample for yourself by clicking here.

 6. Plan outdoor family activities.

Participating in winter activities is a great way to burn a ton of calories and get into the holiday spirit. Sledding, ice-skating, tubing, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing are always fun. Start a football or soccer game for the whole family. Get everyone involved – it might just become a new healthy holiday tradition!

Holiday parties, feasts and treats are a must and shouldn’t be missed! Lose the guilt and simply try to stay balanced and keep your overindulgence in check. Exercise, take supplements and eat right when you can and you’ll have a happy healthy holiday season!