Wellbeing

5 Ways to Stay Healthy Between Christmas and New Year

The period between Christmas and New Year is full of food, alcohol, festivities, and vegging. Sounds idyllic, right? Yes, but it can take you off track from your usual daily (healthy) routine, making it harder to get back on it in January, and let’s face it January is depressing as it is. That’s why we’ve come up with some top tips to help you stay on track and not find getting back to the grind too difficult later.

   1. Stay Hydrated

Of course, hydration was top of our list. If you didn’t unwrap a Hydratem8 bottle this Christmas, firstly why not? Secondly, invest in one if you haven’t already. Drinking water is often underrated but without adequate amounts we can find ourselves feeling hungry, tired, and sluggish.

There’s no reason to be boring over the festive period and not drink alcohol at all unless you choose to. Instead, drink smartly and take on water in between drinks as this can help to prevent dehydration and even dampen down your hangover the next day.

   2. Choose smart foods

Gatherings may be limited this year, but we’re fairly sure food won’t be. Even though Christmas is the time to overindulge, overeating at every festive moment is no good for your waistline and will leave you feeling pretty full and groggy, too.

Try filling half your plate with vegetables as these can fill you up and are better for you than high fat or high sugar snacks. If you are attending a gathering, eat a snack about an hour before you arrive. You’re more likely to make poor food decisions if you’re starving.

   3. Get some sleep

The festive season is exciting, but it can be tiring, too. Late nights and early mornings can be a recipe for disaster as the holiday season goes on. That’s why it’s important to get in a good restful night’s sleep as it not only makes you feel great, but it helps to improve your concentration and mood.

Christmas can be a tense time of year, especially if you’re hosting. So, rather than staying up extra late to get everything done at once, plan ahead, pace yourself, and don’t deprive yourself of sleep. You’ll get a lot more done if you’re well-rested!

   4. Stay active

It’s easy to feel that Christmas-New Year slump, but it’s important to keep exercising over the festive period. If you can’t make it to the gym, get creative. Why not take the whole family out on a Christmas Day walk after the big festive meal or try some easy HIIT workouts in the front room?

Just a small amount of exercise is better than nothing. And it could be a good excuse to escape the in-laws for a while, too.

   5. Have a laugh!

Laughing is a great way to relieve stress and tension. Did you know, your muscles can stay relaxed for up to 45 minutes after a good laugh. So, get the games out this festive season and have fun!

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