The Holiday season is officially upon us. The days of Thanksgiving and turkey are behind us and the mad rush for gift shopping and holiday travel has begun. With all of that Holiday cheer in the air, there is also that looming cloud of Holiday stress. As we make our way into the adult world and become the planners, the hosts and the gifters, we begin to realize that the entire month of December is a death trap for our health and fitness routines. It’s a time when we have to hone in our life management skills and do our best to stay on track.
If we’re not out shopping, we generally spend the Holidays laying around more, sleeping more, eating more and traveling more. It doesn’t take a scientist to tell you that all of these things together mean bad news for our health. So how do we stay on track? There’s no great answer to this question. In general, there tends to be a correlation between travel, stress, and changing your diet and fitness routine. It’s hard to hit the gym or eat right when you’re on the go and your only options are the airport McDonald’s or the hotel buffet. Not to mention the fact that stress induced by airport security alone can make you want to reach for the closest snicker bar at the airport newsstand. Ultimately, the only way to stay on track is to plan ahead and put your life management skills to the test!
If you know you’re going to be traveling, plan out your food. Run to the grocery store before heading to the airport and stock up on bulk snacks like nuts, fruit, even some bars so that you have healthy snacking options when the airport only offers you burgers and fries. Stay hydrated through out your travels. Grab a giant bottle of water once you make it through security and drink as much of it as you can before your flight. It might mean you actually have to use the tiny bathroom on the plane at some point, but it will keep your body functioning properly. The biggest tip of them all? Just because food is free doesn’t mean you have to eat it. Many of us will spend the Holidays at all inclusive resorts, hotels, or even friends houses. Just because we’re offered an all you can eat buffet, a free glass of champagne in first class, or an extra slice of pie from grandma doesn’t mean we have to eat it. The biggest mistake many of us make during the Holidays and while on vacation is doubling up on meals. If you’ve already eaten breakfast, skip the complimentary buffet. Say no to that extra slice of pie, because while the Holidays are about merriment and enjoying the good things in life, they’re not about setting yourself back a step.
That’s where working out comes into play. This seems to be the area most people struggle with during the Holidays. That’s why it’s important to stay neutral with your to approach exercise during the Holidays. This means using exercise as a way to simply stay on track and not lose ground. Maybe at your home gym you run six miles a day, so run three during the Holidays if that’s all you have time for. It’s better than nothing. Maybe you don’t have a gym at the hotel you’re staying at or just can’t find time to go to the gym at home. It’s no excuse! If you have ten minutes and a floor you can complete some high intensity workouts and feel good knowing that you took a small step towards your fitness goals. This is where life management skills become crucial. When faced with the option to work out now or later, always choose now. Odds are, when later comes along, it’ll be too late or you’ll already have something else going on.
Ultimately, planning ahead to try and eat right and continue to exercise during the Holidays can be an added stress factor. Many of us put it on the back burner because we have other things to take care of, but it’s important that we put our health first. The Holidays may be a giving season, but we have to remember to be selfish too and take care of our bodies. After all, it’s easier to enjoy the Holiday cheer when we feel healthy and happy!
