How to enjoy a mindful Easter this year: Tips for a balanced and stress free Easter.
Tips for a balanced and stress free Easter
Easter is a wonderful time of the year, filled with travel, camping and catching up with friends and family. But it can also be challenging for some to navigate, especially when the supermarket shelves are overflowing with chocolate Easter eggs. Many feel the pressure to keep up their health goals and not overindulge over the long weekend. However, Easter is not just about chocolate, the holiday also provides the opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and enjoy a well-deserved break.
If you’re looking to enjoy Easter without the stress, here are some tips to help you have a guilt-free, enjoyable long weekend.
Don’t skip meals
It may be tempting to skip meals over the long weekend to “save room” for the Easter chocolate. But skipping meals can lead to increased hunger and overeating later in the day. It is important to still eat regular meals and snacks based around the five foods groups, as this will help regulate your appetite and help prevent the urge to snack excessively when those Easter chocolates come out.
Be realistic
Setting strict and unrealistic rules for yourself like saying you “can’t” have any chocolate, often creates unnecessary pressure and fear towards these foods. When we deny ourselves the food that we enjoy, this can make us desire and crave these foods even more. Also, breaking these self – imposed rules can lead to negative feelings of guilt and frustration. Instead, allow yourself to enjoy these foods in moderation, while still incorporating other nourishing meals and snacks.
Mindful eating
Mindful eating is a practice that increases the awareness of what you are eating through listening to your hunger and fullness cues, while also enjoying and appreciating the food. When having an easter treat like chocolate, try and eat without distractions like the phone or TV. Also, sit down and eat slowly to savour the flavours. By practicing mindful eating, you will likely find that you feel more satisfied with a smaller portion of that food and less likely to overeat.
Incorporate some movement
If possible, engage in some form of movement over the long weekend to help you energised. This could look like playing cricket with the family, gardening or going for a walk. It doesn’t need to be strenuous; it’s about getting your body moving and enjoying the fresh air.
Focus on mental wellbeing
While Easter can be a busy long weekend for many, remember to take some time out to relax and recharge for the year ahead. Look after your mental health and wellbeing by doing activities that you enjoy, this could be reading a book, listening to a podcast or catching up with family and friends.
Remember, Easter is only a very small part of the year. If you indulged in a bit more chocolate than planned, that’s okay, this will not derail your goals. Just remember to be kind to yourself, unwind and enjoy the long weekend.
Use our Easter Selfcare Bingo Card below and follow along our Easter break tips here
