Get Up and Move!

It’s the holiday season and that’s great – right? Parts of it are amazing – seeing friends and family, opening presents, touring neighborhoods to see Christmas lights, attending Christmas programs at your church or school – all these can really add to the holiday spirit. What’s not so great? All the food, travel time spent sitting in a confined space, eating too much, sleeping in strange beds – all these can combine to make you feel sluggish and off balance.

Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy cure – although for many of you it’s somewhat of a dirty word – exercise! That’s right, get up from the chair, or off the couch and start moving! Walk the dog, jog around the block, go for a bike ride with your kids, play Frisbee with the family or go out and chop some wood for the fireplace. It really doesn’t matter as long as you’re moving.

The good news is that you don’t have to run a marathon. Research shows that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise 5 or more days has the following benefits:

• Fights depression • Reduces stress • Improves mood • Relieves anxiety • Provides structure to your day