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6 "easy-does-it" ways to return to healthy habits
Healthy habits often go into hiding during the whole holiday hullabaloo. Once the tinsel has settled and every scrap of wrapping paper has been vacuumed out of the rugs, how will you recover a beneficial balance?
Take baby steps. The holidays can be a haze of fun and excess - and January a rude awakening. So, rather than dousing yourself with a bucket of ice water, gently coax your healthier side out of hiding. Take it slow. Try setting one good-for-you goal for each week of the new year.
Keep one holiday "gift" handy. Despite the reputation, not all holiday excess is bad for you. Integrate some element of holiday happiness into your everyday routine! Did you spend more time with friends and family than usual? Make friendly hangouts a habit. Did you enjoy your favourite hobby during the break? Schedule a hobby hour on weekend afternoons. Loved the good feeling of giving back to your community? Volunteer on a regular basis.
Push back at the fitness crowds. Gyms and workout centres will be packed to the gills with resolution-seekers during January and February. If the mob de-motivates you, put off your return to the gym or yoga studio until the crowds have thinned. In the meantime, pursue at-home fitness goals that may be easier to stick to. Pop in a workout DVD or grab a jump rope for a simple daily DIY cardio workout.
Attend to your financial fitness. The holidays are over - and you overspent! You can reclaim your more frugal financial attitude in simple ways. Stow your credit cards at home near your latest debt statement. Cut back on buying unnecessary items. Prepare more dinners at home rather than eating out.
Hang out in the produce section. Nutrition lies at the heart of most healthful goals, and most of the healthiest foods await you in the produce section. Get acquainted with in-season fruits and vegetables. Ask a grocer about that unfamiliar bundle of greens or try a recipe using a new-to-you root vegetable. Produce packs loads of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, all while being more affordable, versatile, and flavourful.
Be kind to yourself. December's aftermath - a few extra pounds, a messy house, a bank statement in the red - sends lots of us on post-holiday guilt trips. It's easy to get really hard on ourselves. Listen to your self-talk - are you being harsh with yourself or setting unrealistic goals? Words can hurt, even if we only say them to ourselves. Turn negative thoughts on their head: "Quitting smoking is impossible" can become "I can't wait to breathe easier and for my clothes to smell better."
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