3 tips to avoid the principals’ holiday 10lb gain

Lets face it, as a principal it’s easy to get fat.  We already don’t have the time to eat properly because our schedules are rarely fixed.  There’s always an emergency situation that requires our finesse and problem solving abilities. The side effects, of course are;  we eat crazy fats and sugars.  This is compounded during the holidays when the secretaries, staff, and families are bringing in holiday comfort treats that remind us of our childhood and our families.  

Not only that, when we get home there is always something tasty to graze on as we walk from the bedroom, through the kitchen, and into the living room.  It’s a constant battle balancing tasty treats and the bathroom scale.  In doing some experimentation over the years and reading a bunch of blogs and health articles these three tips work for me.  They might work for you too!  

Get that H2O
Just because it’s simple doesn’t make it easy.  Sometimes I realize I haven’t used the bathroom all day because I haven’t taken the couple of minutes it takes to drink a glass of water.  Then at the end of the day I’m eating from the candy dish or eating chips to satiate what is actually a water deficit.  

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, so I’ll just reiterate it.  Drink that water.  Drink it before you eat and drink it after.  The water will help satiate your hunger and help you feel full.  Not only that, it also helps your brain and helps make thinking more efficient. If you’re not familiar with a dozen other sources that talk about water and health check out this easy read from Fitday.  Bottom line water is a simple solution drink it!

Graze like a herbivore
Instead of having chips, meatballs or leftover ham readily available after a holiday feast put out the fruits and vegetables.  Wrap the tasty fatty stuff up so you have to work to get it.  Make it easier to get to the healthier stuff.  You can get a good sweet with strawberries and bananas and a good crunch with carrots.  This strategy falls under that idea of eating multiple small meals several times a day so you don’t gorge yourself if you haven’t eaten all day.  Admittedly this isn’t easy to do as a principal because we’re never sure when we’re going to get a break.  The best solution to actually plan a 5-10 minute “meetings” throughout the day where you do two things.  Eat something healthy and take a brain break.  You’ll find you’ll perform better after these short breaks.  

Go ahead and enjoy life
This is my favorite.  Take your one day and splurge!  Eat all the mac and cheese, greens, ham or turkey you body can hold, and then eat some more.  Pile up your plate with pie and tasty treats.  I’m no trainer or health nutritionist but I know that after a day of eating like that my brain and tastebuds have had enough.  It’s much easier to eat healthier after a day like that than to try and be disciplined the entire holiday break.

​What strategies do you use to avoid showing up at work like a funhouse mirrored version of yourself?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below.  

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For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the  www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs, as voted by readers, by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website.   

If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, episodes replayed weekly.  If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com. Finally, I’m part of a  community of supportive principals please join our private FB group.

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