December 17, 2019, by Charlotte Gauja

How to stay fit during the Christmas Period

We all know and love Christmas as a time for indulgence and relaxation. However, it is still important to keep moving during the festive season!

Here are 8 ideas on how you can stay fit during this festive season:

  1. Go on a winter walk

The dark and cold days leading up to Christmas can leave us all leaning for a hot chocolate and tray of biscuits. Why not go for a walk and enjoy the crisp, winter scenery? It’s proven that fresh air helps lift your mood!

  1. Get your skates on

It’s that time of year when almost every open space is newly occupied by an ice rink! Take advantage of that and go for a spin with your friends. Not only is skating an excellent cardio workout, it is also great for your core and leg muscles. The introduction of a different exercise will wake up muscles we often neglect.

  1. Optimise your workout sessions

Christmas can be a really busy time of year, leaving us not much time to keep fit. Intensity exercises, like a HIIT workout, are a great way to fit exercise into your busy schedule this season.

  1. Listen to Christmas music

As if you didn’t need an excuse to listen to ‘Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer’ again! Science tells us that exercising to music improves both speed and stamina. So why not change up your workout playlist to incorporate some Christmas songs?

  1. Stay hydrated

A lot of us are guilty of over-indulging during the month of December, but it is important not to forget to keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water too. Not only can water help to flush out toxins, it also helps to ease any unwanted hunger feelings whilst you’re out Christmas shopping!

  1. Dance the night away

‘tis the season to be jolly! It is possible to burn almost 500 calories an hour just by dancing. So don’t be shy, grab a friend and get on that dance floor this festive season!

  1. Get enough sleep

It can be easy to get swept away in all the festivities over December, but it’s important to still get the right amount of sleep to keep you feeling your best self. Studies recommend that 7-9 hours of shut-eye a night is optimal for most people.

  1. Relax!

The month of December can be a stressful month with shopping, social gatherings, parties and January exams looming. It’s important not to ‘burn the candle at both ends’ and take some time to relax and recharge.

We hope you have a lovely Christmas.

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If you are a student or staff Sport and Fitness member you can enjoy access to 77 gyms UK wide over the Christmas break via the BUCS Universal scheme. Find out more here: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport/membership/universal-gym-membership.aspx

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