The holiday season is a busy and exciting time of year, but it can also be quite stressful.
Between shopping, parties, traveling, and visiting family, it’s easy for your regular exercise
routine to fall by the wayside. Research has shown that physical activity levels tend to
decrease the most after holidays.
That’s why it’s so important to make your health a priority this time of year. Regular exercise can
actually help reduce holiday stress and keep you feeling your best.
Here are some of the key benefits of maintaining your fitness routine:
Stress Management
The holidays bring a lot of added demands on your time and energy. Exercise is a proven way
to manage stress and improve your mood. When you work out, your body releases
endorphins that can lift your spirits and help you better cope with the pressures of the season.
Making time to be active, even just a little big each day, can go a long way in keeping you calm
and centered.
Immune System Support
Cold and flu season tends to ramp up during the winter months. Staying active can help
support your immune system and reduce your risk of getting sick. Keeping up with your
workouts makes you less susceptible to holiday illnesses that could derail your plans.
Weight Management
The holidays are full of rich, indulgent foods that can pack on extra pounds if you’re not careful.
Regular physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight by burning calories and
boosting your metabolism. It also gives you an outlet for all the extra energy you may have from
eating richer foods.
If you’re having trouble sticking to your exercise routine, consider talking to your physical
therapist. They can create a customized fitness plan to help you stay on track, even with a busy
holiday schedule. Physical therapists can teach you exercises you can do at home and provide
tips for fitting activity into your day.
Here are a few quick tips to help you stay active this holiday season:
● Schedule your workouts like any other important appointment and don’t cancel them.
● Find ways to be active with friends and family, like going for a walk after a meal.
● Keep home exercise equipment (like weights or a yoga mat) accessible and ready to
use.
● Park further away from stores and buildings to get in extra steps.
Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holidays derail your health and fitness goals. With a little
planning and creativity, you can maintain your exercise routine and enjoy a happier, healthier
holiday season.
References
Research:
1) Fredslund EK, Leppin. A Can the Easter break induce a long-term break of exercise routines? An
analysis of Danish gym data using a regression discontinuity design. BMJ Open 2019;9:e024043.
a) https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/2/e024043.citation-tools
2) Henk Aarts, Theo Paulussen, Herman Schaalma, Physical exercise habit: on the
conceptualization and formation of habitual health behaviours, Health Education Research,
Volume 12, Issue 3, September 1997, Pages 363–374
a) https://doi.org/10.1093/her/12.3.363
3) Enjoyment as a Predictor of Exercise Habit, Intention to Continue Exercising, and Exercise
Frequency: The Intensity Traits Discrepancy Moderation Role
a) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.780059/full
4) Marilyn Moffat, Stefan Hegenscheidt, Shamay Ng, Duncan Reid, Nirit Rotem-Lehrer & Mark
Tremblay (2012) Evidence-based exercise prescription: raising the standard of delivery,
International Musculoskeletal Medicine, 34:1, 21-36,
a) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/1753615411Y.0000000016
Articles/Content
1) Physical Therapy for Exercise
a) https://www.choosept.com/health-centers/exercise
2) Exercise Videos from Physical Therapists
a) https://www.choosept.com/health-tips/exercise-videos-physical-therapists
3) Stressed during the Holidays
a) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/02/well/move/holiday-stress-exercise.htm
