Although it can be easy to get caught up in the hype of exercise fads (and pay a bomb in the process), there are plenty of low-cost activities that will keep you fit, healthy and social, writes MARIAN BRENNAN.
Around Christmastime, we often find ourselves navigating endless parties, free-flowing food and booze, while juggling increased family commitments. No wonder some of us end up feeling a bit stressed and exercise routines often go out the window.
Of course, Christmas only comes around once a year, so if you want to take a day or two off from the daily grind, do it! We may not get many opportunities to spend time with family and friends, so it is completely reasonable to want to have some downtime with loved ones during this period. But if you would rather keep the ball rolling a bit and are looking for ways to keep up the activity over the festive period, there are plenty of options.
Christmas day is often full of family tradition, so why not add a new one? A few years ago, I started a new Christmas tradition and now it wouldn’t feel like Christmas without it. I get up early before all the family activities begin, meet a group of friends down at the beach for a run and a frolic in the water (we may even have a sneaky fruit mince pie and a glass of champers), before heading back home before most people have started their day. For those with some extra time on their hands on Christmas morning, getting out for a bike ride is a great idea. The roads are usually very quiet on Christmas morning, making for a very peaceful start to the day.
There are some great festive fun runs and walks that you can get involved with too! On the Parkrun website, you will find a number of local runs on Christmas and New Year’s Day mornings. These are not too time consuming and can be a great thing to do as a family – you might even like to dress up in your best festive attire! The WA Marathon Club (the club welcomes everyone of any ability) hosts a fun New Year’s Eve run and walk, with many participants hanging around for a picnic afterwards on the river – just lovely!
If it’s simply not possible to fit something in before the festivities start, why not try stretching your legs later in the day? Take the whole family for a post-Christmas lunch stroll! Or get out the cricket set and have a game of backyard cricket! Remember, you don’t have to meet your daily exercise quota of 30 minutes all in one hit. Try fitting in a few 10-minute blocks of activity. A quick game with the kids, grandkids, nieces, or nephews, a quick 10-minute walk before guests arrive, or maybe 10 minutes of some last-minute cleaning!
There are plenty of ways to fit activity into the festive season without it feeling like a chore. That said, if you would rather just take a few days off to relax and take a break from the usual routine, allow yourself some downtime!
