The festive season is a time to celebrate with friends and family. ‘Tis the season to be jolly after all! But all the merry-making, along with extra responsibilities, can have an impact on your health, making the holidays anything but fun and festive.
Here we look at some tips to help make sure you have fun while still taking care of yourself this Christmas and ensuring you’re in tip top health for the start of 2023!
5 tips for managing Christmas stress
Christmas is not all presents and good cheer. It’s a busy time of year with lots to do from buying and preparing food and shopping for presents, to hosting family, and even managing family feuds for some. It’s easy to become overwhelmed, especially if you’re hosting Christmas at your home. Here are 5 tips for managing Christmas stress.
- Make a list: Write down all the tasks you need to do and break them up into manageable chunks. Desmond Tutu once wisely said “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” Everything in life that seems overwhelming can be accomplished by taking on just a little at a time.
- Take breaks: Don’t forget to take regular breaks throughout the day and have some time for yourself. Taking short breaks is known to increase focus and productivity, so stop for a cup of coffee or even just some deep breathing!
- Prioritise: Set realistic expectations and focus on the most important tasks.
- Ask for help: Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for help. After all, Christmas is a time to come together!
- Keep things in perspective. Does it really matter if you forget the bon-bons or burn the turkey? Christmas is just one day out of 365, so keep your sense of humour and don’t let it overwhelm you!
5 ways to keep active during the Christmas break
Christmas is a time to relax and enjoy some rest, but it can also be a great opportunity to stay active and not change our usual pattern of exercise too much. Here are 5 ways to stay active over the festive season while still having some fun.
- Take a stroll with the family and take in some Christmas lights. Head into the city or there’s sure to be a street or neighbourhood nearby with festive displays. Google “Christmas Lights near me” and you’ll be sure to find some!
- Play Christmas games: Try traditional Christmas games like pin the nose on the reindeer or head outside with the family and try your hand at backyard cricket!
- Turn up the volume on the Christmas tunes and dance around the living room
- Take part in a Christmas challenge: Try to challenge yourself to do 30 minutes of exercise each day during the holiday period!
- We can’t have a white Christmas in Australia, but you could give ice skating a whirl. It’s great exercise, a fun family activity, and a great way to cool down on a hot summer day!
5 tips for surviving Christmas without overindulging
If there’s one time of the year when we can give ourselves permission to not diet, it should be the festive season. The key is maintaining your current weight by not overindulging so you’re on track for the new year ahead. Here’s some tips to not feeling deprived over the festive season and still enjoying delicious treats, without gaining the silly season bulge.
- Make your Christmas party a bit healthier by replacing some items like chips and soft drinks with healthy snacks and drinks like stone fruits, veggie platters, smoothies and fresh juices.
- Get creative with Christmas recipes that are still healthy. From roasted vegetable salads to christmas pudding made with oats or almond flour – there’s plenty of delicious options that just need a slight tweak to make them healthier.
- Stay hydrated! Water is essential for our bodies so be sure to drink lots of it throughout the break. Choose to have sparkling water instead of sugary soda or alcoholic drinks. It doesn’t have to be every time – who doesn’t love a festive beer or champagne – but sometimes.
- Avoid going to Christmas parties hungry. Eat a small snack beforehand, like a handful of almonds, avocado or a boiled egg. These will help fill you up and help you avoid snacking on high-fat, salty nibbles at the party.
- Finally, be conscious of your portion sizes and stick to treats in moderation. Listen to your body and stop eating when you’re full!.
The most important thing this festive season is that you enjoy time with friends and family without feeling guilty about the choices you make.
It’s important to find a balance between celebrating Christmas and not missing out on all the fun by being too hard on yourself.
Above all else, be good to your body! It’s the only one you’ve got!
Merry Christmas ✨
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