This the season for parties, meals on the run and little time for exercise. The holiday season means harried folks racing from activity to activity, allowing little time for sleep or other healthy habits. The result is often sickness and exhaustion striking right about the time you want to join with friends and family under the Christmas tree.

To avoid this holiday cycle, check out these five tips for staying healthy during the winter holidays.

Eating Healthy

When Christmas cookies and eggnog become the standard food fare, it is time to counter those unhealthy selections with a few nutrition-packed ones. Stock your pantry with fresh fruits and veggies for snacking. Fresh produce offers a powerful punch of nutrition with very few calories. Grab an apple while you are Christmas shopping or crunch some carrot sticks during your afternoon wrapping session. Keep a bowl of washed fruit on your counter or in your refrigerator for easy access during frantically busy days.

Avoid Overeating

When the season’s festivities arrive, it can be easy to overindulge at social events. Eat a light snack before heading out to a dinner or cocktail party so you will consume less while out with friends.

You can also drink plenty of water before you go out, since water fills the stomach and hydrates the body for a night of partying. Remember that alcoholic beverages are packed with calories without providing much satiety, so limit yourself to one or two drinks during those nights on the town.

Get your ZZZ’s

Sleep becomes quite elusive with so much socializing and so little spare time during the season. However, sleep is important for a number of reasons. A healthy amount of sleep keeps the immune system working at peak capacity so your body is prepared to fight off the many bugs lurking this time of year. Sleep is also the time when your body produces certain hormones that keep it from overeating. Even during the busiest weeks, you should strive for seven to eight hours of shut-eye a night.

Make Time for Exercise

It is easy to forgo your workout program when time is at a premium, but your body needs physical activity more than ever during the holidays. Exercise boosts your energy levels so you can actually accomplish more during the day. It also keeps your immune function high and helps you maintain a healthy weight, even when you do decide to indulge in those cookies and eggnog. If you really want to lose weight during the holidays or work off those extra meals, plan skiing holidays around Christmas and New Years. The skiing will burn off the extra pounds and keep you in shape.

Manage Stress

The holidays are packed with fun, but they also come with more than their share of stress. Too much stress makes the body more prone to sickness and more likely to indulge in unhealthy habits like overeating or drinking. To alleviate this problem, make some time to relax and indulge in activities you enjoy. Spend an evening with a good book or a jigsaw puzzle, or relax in a decadent bubble bath. When you make time for yourself, stress will be less likely to take its toll.

You can get through the holidays without sacrificing your health with these easy tips. By taking control of the season, rather than letting it control you, you will be more likely to make it to New Year’s with your health intact.