The holiday season is fast approaching. It’s the time of year for fun festivities, social gatherings, and treasured time with family and friends. But this also makes it a time of year where our usual routines go out the window.
The holiday season can be a tricky time to stay fit and active, and many find their usual exercise regimes go out the window. To avoid finishing the holiday season feeling sluggish and unfit, here’s a few tips thanks to Hannah Wells to try and keep you on track with exercise while not disrupting the festive fun:
1. Get your exercise done first thing
Wake up times may be later through the holiday period (and rightly so) but try to still get your exercise done first thing in your day. It’s the best way to start the day both physically and mentally and will put in you in a good mood for the rest of the day.
2. Set goals for the holiday period
Set a few goals for yourself over the holiday period. Make sure they’re achievable and fun goals to keep you active and get you outside in the fresh air. Also let your family know about them or even better, get them to join in. Letting those around you know that you’re keen to try and keep a good exercise routine over the holiday period and that it is important to you to keep fit will make it easier to plan your days and help ensure you can fit some exercise in around family time. Some examples could include reaching at least 10,000 steps per day, doing a body weight work out + stretching 3 times per week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or just simply starting every day with a walk.
3. Make it fun
Not all exercise has to be slogging it out on the pavement. Playing backyard games, going bodyboarding at the beach, and throwing a Frisbee around are all activities that can count as activity to keep you fit. Get a few games out throughout the holidays and have a bit of fun with the family, you’ll be keeping fit without even realizing!
4. Drink plenty of water
The chances are that throughout the festive season there will be a bit more food and a few more drinks consumed than usual. And that’s okay. Though, to help keep you feeling in tip top shape, make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water each day. If you feel good, you’re more likely exercise.
5. Go explore!
Use the holiday season as a chance to get outside and explore our beautiful outdoors here in NZ. Many of us will have time away from work so use this as a chance to take the Subaru for a road trip, pack the walking shoes or bikes, and go on an adventure.
While the holiday period can be challenging time to stay fit, trying to keep active by getting it ticked off in the morning, keeping hydrated and keeping it fun can ensure you can stay on top a holiday routine during the festive season.
Hannah Wells is a Subaru ambassador and professional triathlete who uses her Subaru XV to travel around New Zealand to find the hidden gems for training and transporting her gear to and from bike trails. Find out more about the compact SUV, the All Wheel Drive Subaru XV here.