The winter holidays can be a festive and action-packed time of year. But all the holiday excitement—parties, shopping and more—can make it hard to make time for your blood pressure checks.
Regularly checking your blood pressure is an important part of your BP management plan. Checking during chaotic times can be especially helpful. You may feel extra stressed or find you’re eating less-balanced meals. Seeing how your actions impact your readings can help motivate you to make changes that can help.
Here are our favourite tips to help you keep up on BP checks while enjoying the season:
Plan ahead
With all the hustle and bustle, it’s good to add “check BP” to your calendar. This will keep your checks from getting lost in the shuffle. Write it down on a paper planner or add an alert to your smartphone.
Check early
Your schedule may be a little more relaxed over the holiday season. One way to keep up with your checks is to do them in the morning before things get busy.
Get curious
BP readings can be a source of valuable information. Does holiday stress link up with higher readings? Can 5-minute meditation exercises help? Notice how you’re feeling and how that connects with your results.
Take action
If you’ve done some detective work on what bumps up your BP, you should have some useful data. Use that information to keep your readings in check. Finding time for walks, doing breathing exercises and eating balanced meals are all small choices that can have big impacts.
Remember your “why”
The holidays are a time for gratitude. Your loved ones are grateful that you’re giving yourself the gift of good health—and we’re proud of you too. Here’s to more happy and healthy days ahead.