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New Year's Eve: Endless waterfalls of crisp champagne, party-pumping pop music and the perfect, sequined outfit. Yea, right. In reality, it's usually more like an "open" bar with hour-long waits and watered-down drinks, a stranger spilling a mystery substance down the front of your over-priced outfit -- and, ah yes, January 1's infamous hangover.
This year, why not do things a little differently? Below are eight healthy ways to ring in the New Year. We'll be making our toast to stressing less about this ordinarily high-pressure evening, and celebrating by doing the things that make us feel good, plain and simple. Let us know how you'll be ringing in the new year in the comments below!
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Three reasons to shake your groove thing this New Year’s Eve: 1.Dancing can burn upwards of 350 calories per hour. 2. Dancing can improve your sense of self -- and make you feel super confident. 3. Dancing may boost your memory and lower your risk for dementia. And a fourth? It's just so fun.
Many of us toast to the new year and new beginnings. But here at Healthy Living, we're giving you a nudge to keep moderation in mind. You'll reap the health benefits that are tied to alcohol and be able to enjoy the first day of the year without the scary effects that come with overdoing it.
Downward dog as the clock strikes 12? Why not? Lots of studios offer New Year's Eve yoga classes, so you can bend your way into 2013. You’ll reap the many benefits that yoga has to offer, clear your head and, who knows, maybe even secure that recommitment to yoga you've resolved to for the coming year.
Chances are, you were planning to plant a peck on someone special at midnight. Smooch on! Kissing can increase oxytocin levels, which helps to reduce stress, anxiety and even your blood pressure, Shape reports. You can sneak in a little calorie burning while you're at it: Kissing can burn anywhere from two to six calories per minute. That may seem insignificant, but hey, we'll take it.
Maybe 2012 wasn’t your year. While we never recommend running from your problems, running toward a solution -- in this case, a clean slate -- might be your best bet. Whatever your reason (and we’re in full support of running strictly for endorphins' sake) signing up for a midnight run is a great, healthy way to ring in the new year. Many races end with a celebratory glass of bubbly -- so you can still hang on to old traditions while making new ones.
While we tend to think about giving back more on Thanksgiving and Christmas, New Year's Eve should be no different. Do some research on local shelters or hospitals that are in need of some extra hands. Besides making the New Year better for others, you'll be happy to know that giving back can help release those feel-good hormones like serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine. You'll remember 2012 as the year you gave back and enter 2013 with some good karma to your name.
With paper plates. And plastic cups. Take the pressure off serving a perfect, gourmet meal and have all your friends pitch in this year. And since everyone is contributing, you won’t have to worry about specific dietary needs. Plus, you’ll stress less without the thought of dirty dishes looming over your head and you’ll have more time to enjoy quality time with your friends.
Whatever your plans, the most important thing may be to lay off on the pressure. We often hype up New Year’s Eve as the night of all nights, and end up disappointed. This year, why not make an early resolution to be present at your celebration, enjoy the company you keep and see the opportunity that tomorrow brings.
For more holiday stress busters, click here.
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Dig through the garage, basement or attic for the pole. Festivus is about low fuss and muss so repurposing an item you already own is in spirit. Possible Festivus poles include an old lamp pole, curtain rod or even a long aluminum baseball bat if all else fails.2Set up the aluminum pole. This is the centerpiece of the party so set up your pole in a central area of the room or your home.
Don’t decorate the Festivus pole. According to Seinfeld character George Costanza's father, “Instead, there's a pole. Requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting.”Don’t enhance or polish the pole––the dingier the better.3Hit the grocery store for the traditional Festivus goodies. Every holiday has its own culinary traditions and Festivus is no different.
Choose a special dessert. Amongst the choices include black and white cookies, babka or wedding cake.
4Prepare an area to perform “feats of strength.” Since the “feats of strength” portion of the celebration includes a bit of physical interaction, you’ll want a room cleared of valuable (and breakable) items. If you plan to hold an arm wrestling competition, be sure you have a low, flat surface to accommodate the activity.
Celebrate Festivus1Serve dinner. Don’t worry about a table-scape or designing a gorgeous place setting; instead embrace the essence of Festivus and break out the paper plates and use paper towels for napkins.
Serve food in original containers for best effect. Don't transfer pretzels to a pretty bowl; instead, just leave them in the bag and allow your guests to eat straight from the bag.Bringing in fast food is always a viable option for Festivus. Some examples include Arby’s, KFC, the local take out store, or if you live in NYC, Papaya King Hot Dogs.2Embrace the “Airing of Grievances” portion of the celebration. Festivus is the time of year when you let your angst and annoyances all “hang out.” Guests are free to air their irritations at any time during the celebration, whether it's before, during or after dinner.
If guests are feeling intimidated about letting out their grievances, allow everyone to anonymously write down a grievance or two on a piece of paper. Place all the grievances in a hat and have guests randomly draw and read the complaints aloud.Bolder guests can let their grievances rip.3End the evening with a “Feats of Strength” activity, tested between the guests. Typically following the “Airing of Grievances” portion of the celebration, “Feats of Strength” is meant to end the evening once the head of the household has been wrestled and pinned to the floor (as per George Costanza’s father, Frank).
Hold an arm wrestling competition. Pit guest against guest with winners taking on each other until you have an ultimate victor.Thumb wrestling is fine if arm wrestling doesn’t seem viable. For a more tentative group, thumb wrestling is possibly a better idea. Make sure only one hand is involved as cheating is discouraged.Compete playing traditional or video games. Darts, horse shoe or even by breaking out the Wii can be used in the “Feats of Strength” portion of the party.4Call attention to any "Festivus miracles". A Festivus miracle is any ordinary and easily explainable event.
5Send everyone home. Hopefully they'll be fully vented and conveniently nourished.
EditTipsAdd your own flair and flavor to Festivus or start a new tradition.Don’t worry about gift giving for Festivus––the day is meant to celebrate the non-traditional meaning of the season.EditWarningsNever use any dangerous materials (i.e. fire or dangerous activities), drinking or drugs when performing “Feats of Strength.”
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