With the holidays around the corner, the best medicine for your heart is family. 

No matter how you define family, what brings the best benefits to your health is surrounding yourself with people who genuinely love and care for you.

Here are a few health benefits that you may receive by surrounding yourself with family during the holidays, no matter what shape that family may take!

Home cooked meals

Yes, it’s universally known that holiday celebrations usually have a lot of unhealthy dishes, but do not discount the deliciousness of a genuine home-cooked meal.

Savor those flavors and the time it took for the hands that prepared the meals. It can remind you of a simpler time, reduce stress and give you a break from your normal routine.

Family traditions

Remember the excitement of decorating a Christmas tree, lighting a Menorah, carving a turkey or having your own special family traditions? It can harken back to a time where you were younger; allow yourself to embrace your inner child for a bit.

If you didn’t grow up with traditions or are spending time with beloved friend groups or even just your partner, take the time to create a few new traditions.

Forget the outside world for a day

Many workers and families do not have the luxury of taking extended family vacations during the holidays due to work or other commitments. Try to observe at least one day where you turn off your phones, unplug and enjoy family time.

That does not mean unplug and then worry about what you are missing. Truly forget about your deadlines and just enjoy your family. It will do wonders for your physical and mental health. 

Being together 

Big holiday family gatherings can be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories. Ask your loved ones to share their favorite holiday memories or initiate a friendly game. Delve into the rich history of your family's holiday traditions, understanding how they originated and evolved. 

Savor moments with senior family members

If you are lucky and blessed enough to still have these treasured members in your family such as grandparents or great-grandparents, take the time to talk to them. There will come a day when you won’t have that opportunity. 

A little one-on-one time could be the key to finding out new information about their lives and will create a unique bond between you and them.

The holidays can be busy for all involved, but it also creates unique opportunities to enjoy time with one another that cannot be replicated and should not be something to brush off in the hustle and bustle of the season.