Let’s face it: the holidays are a time of mass chaos - a flurry of shopping and eating mixed with feelings of guilt, stress, and panic. It is no wonder that we are more susceptible to things like weight gain and depression during such times! And while it can be especially trying if you are a newly married couple facing the prospect of merging your holiday traditions between your in-laws, or if you are new parents, you don’t have to stick to the same cycle.
Put it Into Perspective
You don’t have to let the holidays sneak up on you so that you rush around last minute trying to tick off everything from your list and hope for the best. Neither do you have to go all out for everybody or feel burdened to make this season the most meaningful for the sake of the new additions in your life. Stick to planning as few things as possible, so you can share the best gift you could ever give to your loved ones - your time! But in order to do that without burning out, don’t forget to exercise!
Why You Should Exercise
In our efforts to get through each waking moment with activities to check off our to-do lists, exercise can quickly become the lowest priority in favor of grabbing a coffee or soda while heading out the door between errands. Not only does this leave the body depleted of much-needed water, but it also contributes to weight gain before adding on the holiday desserts and feasts, and sets us you up for a "low" when that caffeine and sugar wear off, so that sleepiness and irritability can settle in. Talk about a bad combination!
What Types of Exercise to Choose?
Exercise can be in short bursts throughout the day or at one set time for at least 20 minutes for you to reap the benefits. It all depends on your lifestyle, how active you currently are, and what factors might dictate the kinds of exercise you can perform. Running might not be for you, but perhaps you like bicycling or walking. Weather doesn’t have to be an excuse - you can power-walk through the mall, parking furthest away from the building so you can get even more walking time in. If you’re a dog owner, strap on some ankle or wrist weights during your walk together for an added bonus (you know you’ll be outside come rain or snow anyway). Mornings are usually a good time to exercise to start your brain sans the caffeine, but you can choose to do mid-day or early evening if that works better for you. Squats, Pilates, or salsa dancing moves can provide you with the cardio and toning you need. Yogic exercise is a pleasant way to prepare your body and mind for the day, or to calm yourself of stress before sleep. You can even exercise without leaving your bed.
Exercise Your Nervousness Away
You can also resort to these exercises when you feel nervousness and stress coming on and you are in desperate need of "having it all together" within a short time frame (like if your guests are about to arrive):
- 1-2-3 Stretch! Stand up while flexing your ankles, and lift your arms up to the ceiling, taking a few cleansing breaths. Or, reach down and touch your toes, coming up slowly to an upright position.
- Roll away the weight from your shoulders. Turn your head up, down, side-to-side, out, and to your shoulder 4 times in each position. Then roll your shoulders back and forth a few times to loosen up.
