In the months leading up to the new year, it’s extremely easy to fall off track and get lazy when it comes to our daily routines. The holidays are, after all, a time to unwind and let go of all those little things we “must” do to stay in shape. Nobody cares about staying in shape when they get to eat their mother’s home-cooked meals and then go to bed at dawn after a night out with their childhood friends.
Living in the moment is great, but once the clock strikes midnight, for many people, there’s a certain amount of anxiety about getting back to our healthy habits and those worries slowly start to creep back in. The more time you take away from your routine, the harder it seems to be to recover. Don’t panic though. Here are five simple steps that will hopefully make it easier for you to find the motivation to get back on track after your holiday binge.
1. Drink Lots of Water
Let’s start with the part we are all able to do no matter our circumstances or level of laziness – drinking water. If you were on vacation, chances are you consumed a little more alcohol than you should have, and now you might be a bit dehydrated. All you need to do is to drink so much water that you are peeing every hour. Simple, right? This almost effortless step will help your body recalibrate and get your digestion back on track so that you can focus your efforts and regained energy elsewhere.
2. Eat Breakfast
After overeating at all those holiday feasts, you will be tempted to skip meals and breakfast is usually the first one to go. However, for the sake of forming a proper eating pattern again, it is important that you start your day off with a healthy bite. Having something to eat in the morning will actually help you eat less throughout the day.
Instead of starving yourself till lunch, why not simply find a snack you can munch on without feeling guilty. There are plenty of delicious and nutritious gluten-free products out there – sweet and salty alike. These types of healthy snacks will keep your appetite under control while providing your body with sustenance. It’s just a matter of finding which ones you prefer.
3. Move Around
Get a head start on your resolution to join a gym after New Year’s. Just try to get your body used to movement moderately. Go for long walks. The benefits of walking daily are infinite! On top of improving your mood and your blood circulation, it has been known to speed up stomach emptying. With one simple walk, you will make your body feel better while clearing your mind and breathing in some fresh air.
4. Work with What You Can
Don’t make up excuses for not having enough resources to achieve your goals. Focus on what you do have, no matter how small, and use it to get started. This applies to anything from exercising to starting a new work project. If you just blew away all your money on holiday gifts and now you don’t have enough for a fancy gym membership, push yourself to exercise at home before your wallet gets back on track. If you feel like you don’t have the energy to accept that new work project, do it anyway. Motivation will find you in the process even though it may seem impossible to begin. But, once you do begin, it will seem impossible to stop.
5. Be Realistic
Regardless of which area of your life needs work, it is important to pace yourself. Don’t try to do everything all at once. Instead, set one simple goal you know you can achieve. The reward you feel from reaching that first goal will inspire you to keep going.
Conclusion
We have all let ourselves go during the holidays – as we should – but that is no reason to give up on any New Year’s resolutions. Enjoy yourself for the moment, but then slowly and moderately start to incorporate these simple steps back into your routine. You will be back on track in no time!
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