The end of the year is coming, and with it comes a bunch of hazards for your overall health. It’s a time to eat, drink and be merry, but no-one wants to start 2020 on the back foot, so here are a few ways people can get caught out over the holidays, and some tips to get you safely into next year!
The once-a-year sportsman
Around the country, there will be people getting up and playing sport for the first time this year on Christmas Day. A game of backyard cricket, beach footy or even just a game of hide and seek with the kids is tons of fun and a great way to get people moving, but no-one wants to be the one taking it ‘too seriously’ by warming up beforehand.
The issue is our bodies are a lot like car engines – leave one cold for a while and it’s going to struggle the first time you fire it up again. That doesn’t mean you sit out and watch from the sidelines – far from it. Much like when we start up the car and let it run to get it going, there’s nothing wrong with warming up and slowly easing your way into a game instead of diving in the deep end.
An easier way to avoid this issue is to stay active throughout the year, and not have to worry about this issue at all! Maybe the backyard cricket can serve as inspiration to get active for 2020?
The over-indulger
Mountains of good food, lots of drink and a punishing schedule of back-to-back family events. It’s tough to stay on track through the holiday period, especially with the allure of a bright, shiny “New Year’s Resolution” just over the horizon promising us that we’ll “get back on track.”
A key tip for surviving the holiday period is to avoid having multiple large meals on the one day. Our body takes time to digest food, and piling on large amounts at a time makes it really hard for the body to cope. If you have several events of the same day, pace yourself with smaller serving sizes and space out the meals to give yourself time.
Our dietitian Kelsey Hutton (based in our Olympic Park centre) can also give you personalised advice on your diet and nutrition through the holidays and into next year to help you stay on track or achieve a new goal in 2020.
The Resolutioner
Obviously the biggest hazard around New Year is the gigantic spike in enthusiasm we receive on January 1 to re-invent ourselves and make 2020 “our year.” Now, a change of mindset, attitude and physical health is awesome but too often we suffer a severe case of ‘blow out’ and either give up and slip back into bad habits or worse injure ourselves and set ourselves back even further than before!
The biggest tip here is to get some backup! It takes more than just a peak in motivation to break the mould of previous years. At Precision, we have a team of Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists and Dietitians that can guide you to achieving the new you that you’ve imagined, with the tools and support to make it a life-long change.
So, above all, enjoy the upcoming festive period, be active spend time with your friends and family, and enjoy some delicious food, but do take care of yourself and find a few vital minutes to keep your body ready and healthy.
As 2020 dawns and you decide to hit it with a new burst on energy, be smart and come and see the Precision Physio Concord and Precision Physio St Marys teams, so that our Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists, can help you tailor a plan best suited to you and getting the results you want to see.
Book an appointment
If you would like to schedule a session with our team and have Precision Physio support you to achieve your goals in 2020, you can contact us on 02 8607 4000 or request a call by completing this form.
This blog was written by Sam Crossland – Physiotherapist at Precision Physio Concord. If you would like more information, or to work specifically with Sam, you can contact him through the Precision Physio Concord clinic: 02 9736 3950 or book in online.
