A fit lifestyle encompasses more than just eating right and exercise. It includes getting enough sleep, cutting out bad habits such as smoking and other areas that affect your overall health.
In fact, stress can wreak havoc on your body and may even contribute to weight gain. With the holidays in full swing, its time to think about the impact that stress can have on your body.
Medical experts say that this is the time of year in which people are prone to heart problems, such as heart attacks. Stress can be physical, emotional, financial or a combination.
Learning how to combat stress is important. If you want to reduce holiday stress, strive for peace when getting together with family. If some family members are especially difficult to get along with, make a pact with yourself that nothing is going to wreck your holiday celebrations.
You should also learn to say no and to do only what you can. Don’t stretch yourself too thin.
Limit the amount of alcohol you consume. This is especially true if it brings out the worst in you when around people.
Although there are many other suggestions I could give, exercise is probably one of the most important. If you continue to exercise during the holidays, here are some of the benefits you will experience, in addition to reducing stress levels:
- maintain weight if you indulge a little;
- keeps up energy level;
- prepares you for making bigger fitness changes in the New Year;
- makes you feel good about yourself; and
- taking care of yourself makes it easier to take care of others.
Me time during the holidays is so important. Although taking time for a hot bubble bath or reading a good book are some great ways to do this, don’t neglect exercise. Those other activities will help emotionally but working out will help both emotionally and physically.
Need to reduce holiday stress? Invest in your health by keeping fit.