So it’s almost the holidays and you’re getting daily offers of eggnog and cookies. And if you’re somewhere that actually gets cold in the winter, it’s probably proper cold by this time of year. This means that every day it’s just a little bit more tempting to stay in bed with a hot drink and a bad movie instead of eating clean and running or exercising.
In San Diego, even though the temperatures don’t really drop, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have the temptation to slack off and otherwise derail from my standard routine. Somehow the slightly warmer temperatures do help with forcing yourself out the door in the dark evenings - though 40 degrees in the morning is still something of a shock to me. Our holiday trip to Virginia is sure to be a treat (with the temps getting into the low 20’s overnight). ☃️
In any case, if you’re struggling to find ways to stay motivated this winter, I hear you. And if you’re asking for ways to do so, hopefully the list below of 5 ways to stay motivated in the holiday season will help.
1. Start your January New Year’s Resolutions early.
Why is December the best time to start a new resolution? Because it means when it’s actually the expected time to start your resolution, you’ve got a serious advantage. How? Well there’s a few reasons:
Whenever you start building a new habit (running, reading, eating cauliflower, whatever), the first few weeks are undoubtedly the hardest. Get these out of the way now, rather than saddling that extra responsibility later on.
Anticipation and disappointment. If you spend the month of December wishing for it to be January before you start your resolutions, you’re going to be disappointed on February 1st. And when anything goes wrong.
It gives you a distraction and a goal to help keep you on track between parties, late nights, and cold morning.
No matter when you’re reading this, it’s never too late to start. And if your resolution has something to do with the gym, imagine being a ‘regular’ when all those people who waited till January first to let their new year’s resolutions begin.
2. Be easy on yourself.
Cliche but true. And something we all need to hear way more often than we do in our daily lives. If you’ve got a tendency to want to be superwoman (or, superman for the gentlemen out there), it can be easy to spread yourself thin. This leads to being tired and grumpy.
Guess who doesn’t want to go running and eat healthy when they are tired and grumpy? How about most of the population.
Avoid the hole of the holidays by stepping around them. Feel free to say no, and if something doesn’t go exactly as planned, don’t go so hard on yourself about it; as this is the fastest way to start a lovely little downward spiral that leads to all sorts of decisions that your calm and rational self likely wouldn’t even consider.
Once more, louder for those in the back: it’s OK to say no.
3. Try a new exercise or fitness activity.
Preferably of the indoors variety, if you’re feeling a bit wimpy about going outside. The benefit of this is twofold:
You get to find a new activity that uses your muscles differently and doesn’t require you to go outside.
A change from the ordinary exercise routine can be super motivating when the alternative is to chill on the couch.
If you are an endurance runner, think of now as a time to hone your flexibility, reflexes, and muscle control. When the air outside is particularly frosty, you may even be doing yourself a favor by choosing to spend your exercise time in a temperature controlled environment.
And besides, if you take a few days off from running, it gives you a little bit of a chance to start to miss it. :)
4. Find a new signature recipe to try out on the family
Why is it that so many holiday dishes seem to be full of heavy fats, oils, sugar, and other things that generally make food tasty, but at the cost of your arteries? 2019 is the end of the decade and the perfect reason to create something new for your friends and family.
Find a tasty food that can serve in the place of some of the most calorie dense options at the dinner or dessert table. Need ideas? Check out these delicious vegetarian appetizers and vegan desserts.
5. Plan a springtime vacation somewhere tropical
If you can’t escape from the chill physically, how about mentally? Booking a spring or summer vacation somewhere gorgeous can be incredibly motivating. Not because of restrictive diets to fit into bikinis, but rather because it can be seen as a reward.
Imagine - if you’ve got a nice holiday on the horizon, will it be so tempting to buy an extra gift for yourself as part of holiday shopping? Or when you’re stuck in line outside on the tarmac of a freezing airport, imagine how next time you’re in the same place, it could be on the way to the trip of your dreams.
In other words, it’s easier to stay happy, nice, and focused on what’s important to you if you’ve got something beyond the winter holidays to plan (and save) for.
Staying healthy in both your body and your brain can be hard over Christmas and New Years - particularly if your family doesn’t follow your beliefs or otherwise isn’t in your life. As tempting as it may be to spend the evenings drinking and the days eating, it’ll just make January 1st that much rougher.
Having said that, total restriction is almost never the answer. Enjoy that glass of wine or tasty chocolate. And if you do go overboard, don’t beat yourself up. It’s so easy to get in the trap of self blame and fall off the wagon. If you have a day of delicious, but unhealthy foods, don’t stress. Start by drinking a glass of water and taking a deep breath. Every day is a new chance to get it right.
Got other tips that help you to stay on track during the coldest winter days? Tell me about them in the comments below!