Good habits to take into 2009

December 16th, 2008 by Jayne Cox

We’re creatures of habit and with the up and coming festivities I’ve got a slightly alternative take on the big day and holiday period.

The media frenzy of making Christmas a gastronomic delight and on the flip side getting slim in 7 days will be well underway shortly, please forgive me if it’s already in full swing I don’t keep up with the ‘bad news’ papers. Anyway my suggestion is why focus on this and who needs new years resolutions? Why not decide that this holiday you’ll take some good habits developed over the period, into 2009!

Something really good happens over the holidays, in many homes everyone sits down to eat together AND I bet more breakfasts, lunches and dinners, as a family, are consumed and that’s great news! Christmas time often involves planning and organization and if you only do this once a year I guess it’s going to be stressful but what if you get used to planning all your meals, everyday? Your shopping is easier, you’ll buy less impulse purchases (great money saving) and you’ll not be tempted to over indulge if it’s not piled high in the cupboard. It’s a win win!

So habit one is planning.

Hands up if you’re a yo yo dieter or simply an irregular or all or nothing eater then you can start the festive period as you mean to go on. Ok the food may be richer this time of year and we may all consume more than usual but the basic idea of regular eating patterns and family dining is a good one. If you eat breakfast at Christmas time, keep it up, you’re more likely to manage your weight, you’ll have more energy and you’ll perform far better. If you find yourself moody, this is also going to improve!

Habit two, eat breakfast and keep it up!

Pop out around 3.30 on Christmas day and you’ll see families out walking lunch off, so why not walk all year? If the gym membership is posing a financial burden OR you’ve paid for a year and can’t remember when you last went, how about a safe, cheap and easy form of regular activity ‘walking’, to keep your mind, body and spirits in tip top condition. You start the moment you leave the house so it’s an efficient use of time. Go on, give yourself the time for a walk every day and feel the benefits!

Habit three, keep walking!

If you have children you’ll perhaps be fully aware, or maybe not, that you’re being watched, you’re helping your children develop their habits. So if you skip breakfast for a coffee then that’s the behaviour they’ll take into their adult hood and hey presto perhaps yet another generation of dieters or irregular eaters. How many parents tell the kids to eat their meals, don’t skip lunch etc? It’s simple, our actions speak far louder than words and develop good habits in our children!

So the final habit is practice what you preach.

Have a wonderful holiday, enjoy those new habits and take something positive into 2009!