Stay Active Over the Holidays & Eat the Dang Pie!
The holidays are a time for family, friends, and food. Lots and lots of food. It can be difficult to stay active during this time of year when all you want to do is curl up on the couch with a plate of cookies and watch Christmas movies (all of which are okay things to do). But don't worry, we're here to help you find a balance. Here are a few tips to help you stay active over the holidays, without sacrificing quality time with your loved ones or enjoyment of ALL the foods. We want to be very clear that all of these things can exist at once and there is no shame in enjoying the holidays to the fullest.
1. Make a plan. Decide what days that are going to be easiest to exercise, what time of day, and for how long. This will make it easier to stick to it when everything else is thrown off-kilter by holiday parties and travel plans.
2. Find a workout or walking buddy. Having someone to workout or walk with will make it more enjoyable and less likely that we skip a session. Make sure the buddy has a similar schedule so you can actually coordinate workouts without many challenges.
3. Set some goals. What do we hope to accomplish by working out over the holidays? Whether it's losing weight, gaining muscle, or just staying fit, setting goals will help keep you motivated.
4. Mix things up with different activities. Try something new! This helps keep things new and exciting which leads into the last tip. Pro-tip: get your family involved! Invite everyone for a walk or to go try a new activity together.
5. Have fun! Remember that being active is supposed to be enjoyable, so don't make it a chore. Finding activities that we actually enjoy can make it low friction way to look forward to doing it no matter what time of year it is.
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but they can also be a big challenge when it comes to staying active and maintaining habits that usually help us feel good. But don't stress! With a little planning and some creativity, we can easily find ways to stay active without sacrificing ANY of the wonderful things that we love about the holidays.
