The holidays are something we all look forward to, but they can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. Between shopping, traveling, cooking, and hosting, there is often little time for rest, and regular movement routines can easily slip away. In fact, movement can be the ultimate stress relief. Studies show that just a 10-minute walk around the block can have a profound impact. This season, try a few simple strategies to move more and stress less!
Create a plan now to manage stress effectively. Here are some tips to get you going:
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Plan Ahead with a Holiday Calendar:
Search online for a holiday planning guide; free printables can help you get started. We all mean to start early, but then we end up rushing to the store for last-minute gifts on December 20, or ordering items on Amazon that we aren’t too sure about. Sound familiar? Make a plan. Print out a calendar for November and December and be intentional about blocking off time for shopping, wrapping, cooking, and baking.
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Enjoy the Season, Just Say “No” to Unneeded Extras
Set your intentions for fun and being intentional about memory-making. Perhaps that means this year won’t be an entirely homemade Thanksgiving. And that’s perfectly fine—store-bought shortcuts can be sanity-savers. Let others help, and consider hosting a potluck. Outsource what you can. Find a neighborhood teen to come over and wrap gifts for you; consider using a grocery delivery service to save time during the holiday season.
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Protect your Sleep Schedule
Prioritize sleep this season to stay healthy, reduce stress, and boost happiness! Not only does it affect our physical health and immunity, but it also impacts mental and cognitive health. Formulate a pre-sleep plan for optimal rest. The “10-3-2-1-0 Rule” involves avoiding caffeine 10 hours before bed, large meals and alcohol 3 hours before bed, work 2 hours before bed, and screens 1 hour before bed. The zero stands for hitting snooze zero times in the morning!
Feeling your best this season isn’t just about managing stress. Staying active goes hand in hand with feeling vibrant. Here are some simple ways to “keep moving” through the holidays.
Move More, Simple Ideas to Fit Movement in Over the Busy Holiday Season:
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Make Movement Part of the Celebration
We often look to the holidays as an opportunity for a gift exchange and perhaps an eggnog or two. This year, plan a holiday friends meet-up that gets you moving. For couples or visiting families, set up a tournament. Bowling and pickleball are two sports that almost everyone can partake in, regardless of age or fitness level. For extra support, check out Copper Fit compression options. Copper Fit Hand Relief Compression Gloves help provide support, relief, and recovery from sore muscles and painful joint stiffness in your wrists, palms, and fingers - whether you’re launching a bowling ball or hitting the pickleball!
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Start Active Holiday Traditions
We all love to cuddle up in front of the fire with a holiday movie, but this year create new family traditions that get everyone moving instead of lounging. Fun and fitness do go together - sledding burns 300-570 calories per hour! Visit your local ice rink and burn 300-400 calories an hour just skating at a moderate intensity. Consider a few nights of caroling with friends, festive and fun!
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Walk Your Way Through the Holidays
If you can’t find the time to get to your favorite gym class this holiday season, ramp up the walking. Commit to taking the stairs up and down in your building during your lunch break at work. While shopping, take a 20-minute walk around the mall to get an extra step count. If fallen arches, flat feet, or plantar fasciitis are bothering you, slip on Copper Fit’s Arch Relief Plus, an adjustable compression band with a built-in adaptive arch orthotic that easily fits your foot in most footwear.
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Travel-friendly Fitness Tips
Pack a resistance band if you are going to be traveling for the holidays. Here is a quick and easy full-body workout you can do in a hotel room or a guest room: 10 BEST Resistance Band TRAVEL Exercises. It includes practical resistance band exercises that target multiple muscle groups.
Sometimes, just a few simple shifts in behavior can make all the difference between a stressful, exhausting, and sedentary holiday season. Incorporate some of these tips this year, and visit Copper Fit’s full lineup of supportive gear to keep your body moving!
