Healthy Holidays

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Maintain Your Exercise Routine and Reduce Stress

The holiday season is a busy and exciting time of year but can also be stressful. Between shopping, parties, traveling, and visiting family, it’s easy for your regular exercise routine to fall by the wayside. Research has shown that physical activity levels tend to decrease the most after holidays.

That’s why it’s essential to prioritize your health this time of year. Regular exercise can help reduce holiday stress and keep you feeling your best.

Here are some of the key benefits of maintaining your fitness routine:

Stress Management

The holidays bring a lot of added demands on your time and energy. Exercise is a proven way to manage stress and improve your mood. When you work out, your body releases endorphins that can lift your spirits and help you better cope with the season’s pressures. Making time to be active, even just a little bit each day, can go a long way in keeping you calm and centered.

Immune System Support

Cold and flu season tends to ramp up during the winter months. Staying active can help support your immune system and reduce your risk of getting sick. Keeping up with your workouts makes you less susceptible to holiday illnesses that could derail your plans.

Weight Management

The holidays are full of rich, indulgent foods that can pack on extra pounds if you’re not careful. Regular physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight by burning calories and boosting your metabolism. It also gives you an outlet for all the extra energy you may have from eating more decadent foods.

If you need help sticking to your exercise routine, consider talking to your physical therapist. They can create a customized fitness plan to help you stay on track, even with a busy holiday schedule. Physical therapists can teach you exercises you can do at home and provide tips for fitting activities into your day.

Here are a few quick tips to help you stay active this holiday season:

  • Schedule your workouts like any other important appointment, and don’t cancel them.
  • Find ways to be active with friends and family, like going for a walk after a meal.
  • Keep home exercise equipment (like weights or a yoga mat) accessible and ready to use.
  • Park further away from stores and buildings to get in extra steps.

Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holidays derail your health and fitness goals. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can maintain your exercise routine and enjoy a happier, healthier holiday season.

 

 

 

 

References

Research:

  • Fredslund EK, Leppin. A Can the Easter break induce a long-term break of exercise routines? An analysis of Danish gym data using a regression discontinuity design. BMJ Open 2019;9:e024043.
  • Henk Aarts, Theo Paulussen, Herman Schaalma, Physical exercise habit: on the conceptualization and formation of habitual health behaviours, Health Education Research, Volume 12, Issue 3, September 1997, Pages 363–374
  • Enjoyment as a Predictor of Exercise Habit, Intention to Continue Exercising, and Exercise Frequency: The Intensity Traits Discrepancy Moderation Role
    • https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.780059/full
  • Marilyn Moffat, Stefan Hegenscheidt, Shamay Ng, Duncan Reid, Nirit Rotem-Lehrer & Mark Tremblay (2012) Evidence-based exercise prescription: raising the standard of delivery, International Musculoskeletal Medicine, 34:1, 21-36,
    • https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/1753615411Y.0000000016

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