Unfortunately, holidays are also a time that people are prone to injuries. This can be from doing activities your bodies are not used to, overdoing certain activities and maybe not looking after yourself like you would do during the year.
In this short blog I wanted to give you 5 simple tips to help reduce the risk of injuries during the holiday period.
To function well our bodies need movement. Luckily we are often more active during holidays as we have more time to get out and about, which is great. However, we often spend more time on the couch watching TV, reading books etc. and not moving as much. If you fall into this second category, make sure you get some activity in to help your keep body functioning well and avoid injuries.
2: Everything in moderation
The first thought with this tip is food (and drink). You want to make sure you enjoy the holiday festivities, just don’t overdo it.
This tip can also apply to other activities, like gardening, DIY etc. If your body is not used to doing these activities for long periods of time it can open the door for potential injuries if you over do it.
3: Take regular breaks
When I think of breaks, I think of doing the opposite of what your main activity has been. Confused? Well let’s look at a few examples.
If you are gardening or DIYing over the holidays and most of your time will be spent being active bending, lifting and twisting, then your break would be to sit down and have a rest.
On the other hand, if you are having a restful day lying around at home watching movies or reading books, your break will be the opposite of this which would be getting up and going for a walk or doing some stretches.
4: Try to keep a regular sleep schedule
Sleep is one of the most important parts of our days and is necessary for a proper functioning body. Sleep is the time our bodies rest and digest and heal. This is why it is so important.
Over the holidays, try to keep a regular sleep schedule as much as possible.
5: Stretch and mobilise
One of the excuses I often get about not doing stretching and mobilising is the lack of time. Over the holidays, we often have a little more spare time, so make the most of it and show your body a little love by doing some stretches and mobility work. Your body will definitely benefit from the extra activity.
Aside from helping prevent injuries, hopefully spending a few weeks over the holidays doing stretches regularly, you will love how it feels and will continue it in the New Year as well.
Have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season.