For many, the holiday season is a time of joy and celebration. But as we all know too well, between shopping for gifts and frequent social commitments, it can also be a stressful period for our health. Whether you’re feeling lonely, exhausted or stretched too thin, the stress of the season can leave us feeling worn out. But this should be a time of fun and festivity so we’ve put together our top five healthy habits for a happy holiday season.
1. Keep up with your routine to build healthy habits
Although you should allow yourself to rest and relax, try and keep up with a few of your usual healthy habits where you can – whether your morning routine starts with a short walk and a glass of orange juice, or your nighttime routine means chamomile tea and your favourite book, try not to go complete sloth-mode. You’ll thank yourself later, as the holidays will feel longer and you’ll find it easier to appreciate each day as they come and go!
2. Move your body in ways you enjoy
Keeping busy with physical activity is the sure way to avoid feeling sluggish or coasting through the holidays. Endorphins are released during exercise which makes you feel good mentally and physically, so don’t forget to keep your body moving.
Make sure, however, that you’re not pushing yourself too hard. There’s no need to fit an agenda or schedule, and there’s no reason to beat yourself up for missing a workout or taking it easy. Listen to your body and do what feels good! The holidays are a great time to try new healthy habits or hit the gym with a friend.
3. Get plenty of sleep
While we all know that sleep is important for our physical and mental health, it may come as a surprise to learn just how much a lack of zzz’s can harm your body. Sleep deprivation has been shown time after time in studies conducted by doctors around the world to have negative effects on physical and mental health. Lack of rest not only causes tiredness on days when you haven’t gotten enough sleep, but sustained fatigue leads directly to obesity with more risk factors such as heart disease.
Make sure you’re getting a full, deep sleep each night. Our top tips? Don’t drink caffeine after 2 pm, and try creating a bedtime routine to help you wind down at night – we recommend getting a meditation or sleep tracking app to help with your sleep hygiene. You’ll wake up refreshed and ready to seize the holiday!
4. Food Freedom
The Holidays are a tumultuous time for many of us who struggle with our weight. The diet and fitness industry seems to think that they can help by coming up with new ways we could potentially eat less, or telling us how not to gain any pounds over the festive period. This kind of guilt-inducing messaging isn’t very helpful at a time when we should be enjoying ourselves with friends and family!
Both weight loss and weight gain is a culmination of habits over time – you don’t lose weight from one day of exercise, and you don’t gain weight from one excessive meal. Remember to exercise and eat for enjoyment. If you happen to indulge, then that’s cool too – don’t beat yourself up about it! A little excess is a part of what this holiday is all about. Actually, from time to time, that’s what life should be about.
5. Slow down and reflect
We live in a culture of connectivity and constant distraction. It can be hard to find time for yourself when you’re always on the go and moving towards what “needs” doing next.
Healthy habits include spending some time reflecting these holidays – flick through pictures from the year that’s been, go through your calendar and reminisce over fond 2021 memories (and even process those that are less-fond). Feeling stuck to your device? Try leaving your phone at home and going for a long walk, or treat yourself to a journal and spend five minutes each day writing just a few lines or paragraphs – about anything at all! (You don’t have to be a great writer to use journaling to get in touch with your inner world).
When to seek help
If you’re feeling low and struggling to lift yourself up, don’t hesitate to reach out for support from those around you. Whether it’s a trusted friend or a professional in psychology, there are many people available to support and get you through hard times and recover from not-so healthy habits.
If you’re feeling a niggling pain or discomfort, it can be easy to convince yourself to delay seeking help during the holidays. However, it’s important to remember that putting this off can exacerbate the issue and leave you vulnerable to further injury. Don’t put off a visit to your physio to make sure you’re in tip-top shape for the party season!
It’s important to make sure you are taking care of your physical health this holiday season – and it’s also crucial that you take time for mental wellness, too.
If you’re looking to keep your health and fitness levels up over the holidays, book in with one of our exercise, physio, or pain specialists via 1300 012 273 or head to our website and book a session at your nearest clinic.