Even though you’re on holiday, your health isn’t.
Today, Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Pymble, Balmain, Neutral Bay, Coburg – Melbourne, and Barrie, Ontario – Canada discuss why it is so important to exercise over the Christmas and New Year period and how to make it easier to work into your day.
Your Christmas Plan
The summer holiday period can be a stressful for time with Christmas/holiday celebrations, catching up with friends and family, cooking feasts, looking after kids and pick up/drop off to holiday camps … who can find any spare time? Even though it’s a holiday period, our health doesn’t get a break. This is why it is so important to get your exercise plan ready before all the chaos begins.
Why is it important to continue exercising?
It is common during this period for us all to eat more, drink more and take a break from all our normal routines. These are all things that can reverse all the hard work you have put in during the year to see the progress that you have made. Now don’t get me wrong, we aren’t saying don’t enjoy yourself and have a great time! Just consider the impacts your actions may have on your health and how you can create more of a balance.
During the chaotic times chock-a-block full of plans and social events, exercise can be a great way to take time for yourself to recharge your social battery. Exercise has also been shown to reduce stress, improve your mood and energy levels.
So, what does a good plan look like?
4 things that will set your plan up for success:
- Make your plan ACHIEVABLE. Set aside an achievable and realistic amount of time that you can realistically fit into your schedule. It can be as little as 15 minutes or over an hour. Just make sure you can commit to it.
- Make your plan SPECIFIC. By this I mean make sure you know what you’re going to do in your session. Know your routine or what exercises you are going to do. This way if you are pressed for time, you will be able to be effective & focused in your session.
- Keep the plan SIMPLE. Don’t overcomplicate your plan if you know you’re going to be stressed or busy. If the plan itself becomes too busy it will be too easy to throw in the ‘too hard basket’.
- Now, this is the biggest one, make it ENJOYABLE. It is no secret that you are more likely to make time for something you enjoy. Choose exercises and activities that you enjoy and make you feel good.
Examples of exercises
- Body weight circuits: Easy to do at home, in a hotel room or outside with no equipment. Squats, push-ups, Tricep dips, crunches.
- Going for a walk or a run. Enjoy the warm weather that we’re hoping for and get your daily dose of vitamin D.
- Stretching or Yoga. Take some time to de-stress and loosen up.
- Playing sport or activities with family/friends. Enjoy spending some time with your family during the holiday period.
Tips to make your exercise plans fun:
- Use it as an excuse to catch up with someone – go for a walk or do an exercise class with a friend or your family. This is a great alternative or addition to catching up with someone over a meal or drinks.
- Have your family join in – Help them spend their energy while you do your exercises, keeping them occupied – great for kids. It will help keep you accountable for your exercise too.
Our team at Longevity understand the challenges of time management during the holiday period with all the extra plans. We want to work WITH you to develop a plan that works for YOU.
We are trained to address all the factors in your life to help figure out what will and won’t work for you, so that we keep you moving during the holidays & will keep you accountable and support you so that you continue to improve your current & long term health!
Written By Grayson Kieran
Contact Longevity Personal Training and Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Pymble, Balmain, Neutral Bay, Coburg – Melbourne, and Barrie, Ontario – Canada today on 1300 964 002 to help you stay your strongest & fittest this upcoming holiday period!