Healthier Holidays: What to Do

In my last post we looked at ways to lighten Christmas eating...something that tends to be quite difficult for the holidays. As we mentioned, it's likely we'd still be tempted to indulge in a few treats. After all, Christmas comes only once a year and we want to make the best of it. I think a good way to go about your holidays would be to make an effort to adopt a good mix of conscious eating and activity. And activity doesn't have to mean hitting the gym everyday. Here are some easy ways to keep a bit more active during the holidays.

Dance

Parang music, Christmas jingles, mainstream holiday pop songs...there's something for everyone. My advice: dance that ham away. It's a festive time and the mood is great for a little groove here and there. Especially when you're out with friends or family, get together in a group and have fun.

Decorate

A lot of people avoid decorating now because it's tiring. But that's the point! You can get some good exercise while cleaning up and putting up decorations, especially outdoor. And don't let it be something you dread! Team up with a friend, and take turns getting together and helping decorate each other's houses. Get the kids involved. Or even get together for a little friendly...friendly!...competition with the neighbors. Aiming for best-decorated can be the bit of encouragement and zeal that you need.

Visit the neighbours

Don't use Christmas time as an excuse to sit at the house all day, just because school and work is out. Even if you don't celebrate it for religious reasons, it's still a great time to visit next door and keep in touch with friends and family in the neighborhood. Remember, this tip only makes sense if you walk to get there!

Shop...physically

Online shopping is the trend these days, but getting out of the house for shopping is a great way to keep active. Even if you do the bulk of your shopping online, try to patronize the local stores for a few of your shopping needs. It doesn't have to be hectic if you plan in advance and figure out your schedule and exactly where you need to go. Car-pooling and moving in groups can be a great way to ease some of the burden and keep the shopping fun.

Just try to get out of the house in general

Alas, this really is the bottom line. Get out of the house and keep active. Make a day out of it, make it fun. Take the kids to the beach. Go hiking. Go to the movies (watch out for that theatre popcorn though, it's not as healthy as you think!).

It's such a common thing to start the new year feeling sluggish and overweight. It might be a time where we naturally eat less healthy than usual, but the little things we do can go a long way in making the difference in avoiding that extreme guilt and dread come the new year. Are these tips practical for you? What do you think?

Stay peaceful,

Lexxie