The holiday season is here, and of the many things that define it, overindulgence is at the top of the list for many of us. Between holiday gatherings, office parties and big meals with the family, we are faced with temptation on a constant basis, and try as we might, we often let our willpower fall by the wayside and dig right in.

When this happens, a popular trend is to simply let it all go and start fresh with a new plan of good habits for the New Year. While this cycle of events is incredibly common, it is undoubtedly the wrong way of going about it. Statistics show that only about 12% of people actually stick to their New Year’s resolutions for the entire year, setting most people up for disappointment and regret.

At CAM Physical Therapy and Wellness Services, we ask: why wait until the New Year to change bad habits, especially when we know the chances of it working are slim? Why not take some extra steps and set a positive trend over the next few weeks that will launch you into the New Year with your best foot forward and ahead of the game, while others scramble to undo all their splurging during the holidays?

Whether you’re looking to eliminate bad habits or maintain some of your good ones that might be affected by the holiday frenzy, the best way to go about it is to have a specific plan set out and stick with it. Below are some helpful tips to guide you on a path of good habits over the next few weeks of the holidays:

• Accept that your schedule is going to be different than normal and figure out ways to work around it; this includes exercising early or whenever you can; multiple small sessions are acceptable over one large one if needed
• Keep fitness a priority over unnecessary shopping or other activities
• Get a friend or family member to be your workout buddy; make a pact with them to stick to your exercise plan and help each other stay motivated
• Evaluate your progress with a scale or fitness tracker and try to continue improving over the next few weeks when other might get lazy
• If spending too much is a bad habit that often adds to your holiday stress, set a specific budget and do your best to stick with it
• If you’re trying to quite smoking, get a head start and do it now: you won’t be the one stinking like smoke at any of your holiday parties
• If too much alcohol is a concern, try to limit that at events as well
• No matter what your sleeping schedule is, aim to get 7-8 hours every night over the holidays; it’ll reduce stress and help you function during the day

Check in with us next time for specific tips on how to prevent yourself from overindulging on food at holiday gatherings and keep off those extra pounds. For more information on starting good holiday habits now, click here, or to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists in Laurel, Hyattsville or Glenn Dale/Bowie, MD, call CAM Physical Therapy and Wellness Services at 301-853-0093.