The festive season can be a tricky time when it comes to healthy living. When many of our traditions involve indulgent food and drink it’s impossible to avoid it completely, but actually you don’t have to. You can and should have fun and enjoy the things you like, and doing so doesn’t mean your health goals have to go out of the window. With a bit of planning and thought, you can eat, drink and be merry while still maintaining the health and fitness you have worked hard all year to achieve.
Practice Moderation With Food
It’s fine to indulge; it’s Christmas! But being mindful of what you’re eating is always helpful. If you know you’re going to a party or a Christmas meal in the evening; you could opt to eat a little lighter during the day. Instead of snacking mindlessly on treats, set a limit and stick with it. You’ll still get the enjoyment factor but without going completely off course. Writing out a meal plan is useful too, even if you have quite a few nights where you’re out with friends or eating the kinds of things you wouldn’t usually, the rest of the time you’re still off track. Have fun and enjoy yourself but without completely throwing your whole plan out of the window!
Go Easy on The Alcohol
Moderation with alcohol is also necessary. Know your limits and don’t push them, alcohol makes us all make bad decisions so don’t spoil your Christmas by going overboard! You could set a limit to the number of drinks you’re going to have or just stop once you know you’ve had enough. Better still you could go with a low or no alcohol option instead. If you do drink, rehydrating and energizing your body the next day is crucial. Drink plenty of water and green tea, squeeze your own healthy juices or blend up smoothies. A great way to deliver a lot of nutrition and hydration to your body in a way that’s easy to consume. Much better than a greasy fried breakfast!
Keep Up Your Exercise Regime
It might not be the best conditions for going out jogging or playing sport when there are snow and ice on the ground. But there are plenty of things you can do indoors, whether it be at home or the gym. Spin bikes work great; you could either invest in your own or see if there are any classes at your local gym or sports center. Keeping up with your exercise means that if you do tuck into one too many treats over the festive season you’re not going way off course and gaining a ton of weight. Even if you go with something a little less strenuous than usual, for example taking the dog on a long walk, it’s better than nothing and keeps you in the swing of being active.
Stick to a Sleep Schedule
Once you’re off work Christmas, you might find yourself going to bed later and later each evening. This can be a novelty at first since the rest of the year you’re probably out of bed at the crack of dawn! But it’s a bad habit to get into. When you return to work your sleep schedule will be out of whack causing a good few tired mornings, which isn’t the best start to the new year. You don’t need to be in bed by a certain time on the dot, but trying to maintain a reasonable bedtime and waking up time is much better for your health, and you’ll thank yourself when it comes to getting up early again!
Make Time To Relax
Christmas can be fun, but it can also be stressful. It can be financially draining; you have to find the time to visit loved ones, attend various activities and taxi children around. Amongst all the chaos, it’s important to make time to relax and unwind.
It will benefit your mental health and will mean that you’re raring and ready to start the new year once it rolls around. Have a duvet day where you do nothing but watch movies, box sets or read books. Enjoy time doing a hobby, something you don’t get a chance to do much of on a normal day. A bit of time for yourself now and again is just what the doctor ordered.
What do you do over the festive season regarding your health and fitness? Do you give yourself a little time off and rectify it in the new year, or do you try and maintain your healthy lifestyle?
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