Resolve to #BeActive During the Holiday Period

During the holiday period festivities, many of us tend to overindulge somewhat on the culinary side.

At the same time, winters can be extremely cold in some parts of Europe, forcing people to stay at home and be more sedentary than usual.

Despite having the best of intentions, people often encounter obstacles that make maintaining physical activity a complex task. Despite this common problem, we should remember the importance of staying healthy and active.

Levels of physical activity are in decline all around Europe. When you set a weekly fitness routine, you are becoming a part of the solution to reverse this trend.

There are plenty of seasonal activities to take part in, like skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating. Failing that, you could try hiking, snowshoeing, indoor rollerblading or, weather-depending, shovelling snow. Whether you decide to walk for 20 minutes each day, or engage in a winter sport, there are plenty of activities to consider.

Realistic Goals

It is crucial to first have a clear goal in mind and shift your mindset towards exercise during the holiday period.

Schedule exercises or book a bit of time during the day to train your body. This will allow you to track your progress, evaluate your strengths and work on your weaknesses on a regular basis.

No matter how easy a goal can be, every small effort counts. The best part is, that everyone can take part no matter the age or the fitness level.

It can be a family activity or an adventure with friends. You can also tune in to a nice festive playlist that will keep you focused and motivated.

By committing your energy and determination, you are contributing to the objectives of the #BeActive campaign. This campaign aims to encourage citizens across Europe and beyond to move, work out and take part in physical activities.

Challenging times

Sport and physical activity have the power to unite us. Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of healthy competition? Physical activity can help us to distract ourselves from adversity by generating adrenaline and excitement.

Following a challenging year, we have developed resilience and built strength together.

Thankfully, when seeking exercise tips, tutorials and inspiration for fitness routines, we have a wide range of options at our disposal. If you cannot make it to the gym, you can find numerous free resources on training, start your routine and crush an at-home workout.

Turning to social media, we find abundant examples of people sharing their day-to-day interests in sport and other physical activities. Sometimes, we find fun challenges, with millions around the world trying to emulate them.

Joining in with popular challenges or taking part in a race is a great way to be active. It helps us to feel part of a larger community, reach a wider audience, and connect generations.

It is also a wonderful way to motivate and inspire others. Often, it can serve a good cause. Many workouts don’t even require much space and equipment, so you have no excuses!

New resolutions

It is important to appreciate that, by moving and strengthening your body, you are contributing to your mental and physical health.

Once the holiday season is over, remember to adjust your expectations and continue to be active in the new year. Sport and physical activity should be regarded as a welcome challenge, instead of a chore.

As part of your New Year’s resolution, set goals that involve some degree of physical activity. Doing a bit of something is already better than doing nothing!

Of course, if you don’t quite reach your goals this year, there is no need to be discouraged. You can always start 2022 well by ending 2021 on a positive note, and setting up motivating targets.

In the meantime, remember to #BeActive!