Six reasons to stay active these holidays

Posted on 14 December, 2016

January is one of my favourite times of the year.

It’s a time to take stock of our lives, reflect and set new goals. The premise of a fresh start is so alluring: an opportunity to reset, kick some bad habits and become an ever better version of your gorgeous self.

December, however, is pretty much the exact opposite.

Between travel, catching up with friends, eating, drinking and getting some R&R, it can be really tough to keep healthy. The result? A strong temptation to give yourself a ‘free pass’ over December and tell yourself you’ll start fresh in January.

After all, it’s the end of the year and you’re exhausted. You’ll have plenty of motivation in the New Year to burn off that champagne, that Christmas dinner, that afternoon tea at work, that handful (or whole box) of chocolates… right?

I hate to be a party-pooper, but that’s not quite the way it works.

Here are six reasons to stay active this holiday season

You’ll have one Merry Christmas

We all know that when you exercise, your brain releases endorphins that give you a boost of joy.

Did you know, though, that up to 90% of your body’s serotonin (the ‘happy’ chemical that stabilises our mood and helps us cope with stress) is actually produced in your gut?

Keep your gut healthy by feeding it nourishing, healthy whole foods.

It’s the Merry trifecta – the combination of endorphins, serotonin and the confidence you get from regularly moving your booty – that will keep you smiling right through the silly season.

You’ll start 2016 on a high

If we’re being totally realistic, January 1st is not an ideal time to do, well… anything.

For many of us, New Year’s Eve is time to indulge in canapés, down champagne and kiss a cute stranger (or a loved one…if you’re into that kind of thing). The resultant hangover is hardly conducive to feeling fresh and inspired.

I’m not saying that exercising and eating healthy in the lead up to NYE will cure that hangover. However, if you’ve been taking care of yourself, you’re a whole lot more likely to bounce back.

I read this fantastic quote the other day: “It’s effort until it becomes routine”. If you’ve established exercise and healthy eating as habits, they’ll seem like less effort and you’ll be well on your way to a healthy and happy 2016.

Christmas pudding

You may remember last year when the beautiful Kate Freeman and I put together a list of your favourite Christmas treats – and how much exercise it takes to burn them off. It didn’t earn us many friends.

Christmas is by its very nature a time to indulge. Eat the pudding! Don’t waste too much time beating yourself up about what you’re eating, but do be mindful as to how it might affect you if you overdo it.

I for one always gain a bit of weight and feel bloated around Christmas time. It happens.

What I have found is that training in the lead up to Christmas is going to offset some of that damage and have you feeling a whole lot better come January 1^st.

You’ll have more energy

I know the feeling: you’re tired, it’s been a long year, you’ve earned a break. Tempting as it is, lounging around and forgoing exercise can actually leave you feeling worse for wear.

A study from the University of Georgia revealed that regular exercise, even at a low intensity, can boost energy levels by 65%.

Even though they’re called the “holidays”, the Christmas period can be frantic. Taking care of yourself and exercising regularly will help you summon the energy to go shopping for presents, cook Christmas dinner, decorate the tree, survive the work Christmas party, clean the house before the rellies arrive… you get the idea.

You’ll inspire the people you love

This might just be the cheesiest thing I’ll ever write, but inspiring your loved ones can be the best gift you could ever give them.

My mum once told me that the reason she decided to get healthy (and may I say, she is looking mighty fabulous) is because I inspired her, and that means the world to me.

We spend a lot of time with our families and loved ones over Christmas, and when you’re looking after yourself by exercising and eating healthy, they’re going to notice. Why not encourage them to get on board?

Maybe it’s taking your kids to the park for a family game of footy, or encouraging your partner to join you for a quick visit to the gym before dinner – get your family involved and set the tone for an active new year.

It’s a good time to reset your schedule

Often December is a time when our usual schedules go out the window. This is a good opportunity to reflect on how you’ve been spending your time in 2015 and assess what steps you might like to take moving forward.

One of my favourite things about December is buying a new diary or planner for the year ahead. It’s no coincidence that most include the December from the previous year. Treat yourself to a gorgeous new planner and start using it now!

Ditch the “I’m too busy for exercise” excuse and get organised. Get into the habit of scheduling your workouts in the same way you would any other appointment. You’re a whole lot more likely to get your workouts done if you approach it in this way, rather than fitting them in sporadically.