Written by: Lydia Ulrich, AdvantageHealth Intern
Healthy Habits: Holiday Edition
Remember all the walks you went on during quarantine, why give that up now and throw in the white flag surrendering to all those healthy habits you spent the time creating? That doesn’t have to be the case! Take a look at these eight different tips on how you can keep up your healthy habits this holiday season.
Change your focus:
Too often around the holidays we focus about all the parties on our calendar and how it’s going to throw us “off track” and that we can’t enjoy the foods we love. But let’s instead shift our focus to family, friends, and improving those relationships we have. The holidays are much more than trying to stay “on track”- it’s about creating memories that will last a lifetime!
Partake (in moderation):
Moderation, a word we hear all the time. Having a schedule full of parties is great and it doesn’t mean you have to cut out everything that is “bad” for you. When you go to a holiday party, maybe you limit yourself to one drink or only one dessert and then fill your plate with other healthier options like fruits and veggies. You don’t need to cut out all of your favorites, just use your self-control to limit yourself to one treat at a party.
Don’t pause your workout:
BUSY… everyone’s favorite word during the holidays! We all seem so busy shopping, prepping for parties, cleaning, and decorating the house while waiting for family to arrive. Just because we are busy, does not mean we have to skip our workouts. Make your fitness a priority in your daily schedule. Set aside 30 minutes a day to get in some sort of workout, whether that be strength, cardio, or yoga/meditation to help you relax! Find a program or buddy that can help keep you accountable for your workouts.
Try a new activity:
Don’t be afraid to try something new! If you go to a gym and they offer different group fitness classes, try a new class you’ve never attended before. If you always tell yourself, “Oh that class is too hard for me, I’m never going to be able to do that,” now is the time to take the chance because until you step foot in that class, you’re really never going to know! Challenge yourself, it’s ok if you don’t succeed the first time. We all fail, but it teaches us about ourselves and how to approach that challenge the next time we face it.
Connect with friends and family:
Holidays are the time where we always seem to reconnect with old friends and family members we may not always talk to. If you have a circle of friends that you are close with, maybe this holiday season y’all have Zoom workouts together. Try having a cooking day with everyone, whether it’s virtually or all together, by making some Christmas cookies and decorate them together! Holidays are a time for joy so being together with those that are close to you can bring you even more happiness during the holidays.
Track your habits:
Like we mentioned previously, we all seem to be busy during the holidays so it can seem like we’re getting off track with our healthy habits. Having a calendar where you can track your workouts and meals can help you stay focused. If you’re part of any online community, you may have different threads where you check in for your workout every day and post encouragement for others to help keep them motivated during the holidays.
Gear up for activity:
We always write a wish list of what we want for Christmas, right? So why not put on your list different practical items that will help you reach your wellness goals you have for yourself. Maybe on your list you put dumbbells, a new yoga mat, reusable zip block bags, massage certificate things that are going to propel you forward to hitting your goals!
Skip the shame:
There are going to be times where we slip up - we may have multiple desserts at a party, few too many drinks, or miss a workout. Those things are all going to happen, not just during the holiday season either. By slipping up, that doesn’t mean you’re throwing in the flag and giving up. No, that means you take a look at what happened and see how you can learn and grow from it. Maybe your goal was set too big so you need to reevaluate it and move on. It’s going to happen, but don’t be hard on yourself. Take a positive approach and ask yourself what can you do different next time so you get in your workout and enjoy that one dessert.
Since 2001, Minnesota-based AdvantageHealth has been delivering award-winning employee wellbeing programs and fitness center design & management throughout the U.S.
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