8 Ways To Have A Healthier New Year

8 Ways To Have A Healthier New Year

The holidays are notoriously a time to indulge, but don’t let this be the green light to overindulge! You can still enjoy all the festivities of the season and get through this period without too much impact on your health and waistline. Try our top 10 tips for a healthier New Year.

1. Don’t Sit Down All Day

We know every special and movie under the sun will be showing on the TV, but you don’t need to plonk yourself on the sofa all day! Encourage the whole family to get out for a walk at some point – ideally, after dinner to aid digestion. The more activity, the better, so take along any new outdoor gifts, like bikes, scooters, footballs, or Frisbees, or play old-fashioned games.

2. Don’t Give Yourself A holiday Stuffing!

Recent research suggests that Americans tend to consume around 3,000 calories in our Christmas dinner – more than the entire recommended daily intake for a grown man! This does not take into affect any of those toasts we do.

This huge feast not only contributes to weight gain but also to indigestion and heartburn – not to mention lethargy for the rest of the day, reducing the chances of you burning much of it off. Instead of gorging yourself , watch your portion sizes and then take a 20-minute break to see if you are still hungry (it takes this long for the brain to register that the stomach is full). The chances are, you’ll realize you’ve had enough.

3. Keep Colds At Bay

Colds are ripe around the holidays, partly because many of us travel around the country, exposing ourselves – and others – to different cold viruses. Minimize your risks by maintaining a healthy immune system (eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and staying hydrated will help), so you are more able to fight off any viruses.

4. Don’t Stress

‘Tis the season to be jolly’ but jolly is the last thing many of us feel with overspending, cooking, cleaning, endless ‘to do’ lists and visitors we could do without. Try to keep a sense of humor and proportion. Is it really the end of the world if the carrots are overcooked or if the mantelpiece is a bit dusty?

5. Eat Fruit

Let’s be honest, most of us get through the entire holiday period eating no more fruit than the satsuma in the Christmas stocking. It just doesn’t really feature on the menu. But at this time of late nights, overindulging and partying, it’s more important than ever to get your vitamins and minerals, to help you stay in good health. Ensure that your holiday shopping list enables you to fill up the fruit bowl and get your recommended daily portions of fruit and veg. (And no, mulled wine doesn’t count as one portion!)

6. Do Something For Others

It’s hard to avoid the consumerism that has overtaken the holidays in the western world, but it doesn’t all have to be about giving or receiving gifts. Try to do something for others this festive season, whether it’s baking something you found on plan you enjoy for an elderly neighbor or donating gifts to a local charity.

7. Think Before You Eat

This is a time of plenty, and with nuts, chocolates, mince pies and cheese straws wherever you look, it would be rather Scrooge-like to suggest that you don’t eat any treats over the festive period! But rather than mindlessly popping whatever is in front of you in your mouth, spend a moment thinking about whether you really want it, or are just eating it because it’s there.

8. Engage Your Brain

Instead of switching off in front of the TV, keep your mind active by playing games like Trivial Pursuit or Charades. This is also a great way of getting everyone together. If you aren’t a ‘game’ person, engage your mind by setting up any new gadgets, such as PlayStation, iPads, mobile phones or laptops.

And most importantly, have a happy, healthy festive season! Happy New Year!