It can be difficult to stay healthy during the holidays, especially around Christmas and New Year’s, because these holidays are typically ones that involve food. Whether you are single or married with children, there are many healthy holiday activities that you can engage in to keep your mind off of all the treats!
We’ve divided the activities into two groups, but there is no reason that you can’t have your family do them all!
Healthy Holiday Activities for All Ages
Idea #1: Participate in a December Challenge
Thanks to social media, a thing called a “December Challenge” has become popular. These challenges can vary widely between social circles and based on your lifestyle. Many people report that choosing a December Challenge that doesn’t involve food helps to keep them focused during the holiday season.
Take the time to create a December or Holiday Challenge for yourself. It can be something you saw a friend do or something you came up with on your own. And it’s never too late to start! Even if the month is half over, you can still adopt a December Challenge to keep you focused during the holidays!
December Challenge Ideas:
Drink only water for the whole month
Work out for 15 minutes every day
Don’t buy anything other than food
Stay off social media
Go outdoors for 30 minutes each day
As you can see, these challenges vary widely, so don’t be afraid to come up with your own! Just make sure you come up with something that is challenging for you!
Idea #2: Engage in Themed Holiday Fitness
It can be difficult to stay fit when the weather gets colder. But if you take the time to look for some Holiday themed fitness activities in your area, you might just be surprised by what you find!
These activities can include a Santa Run (often done around Christmas), a polar plunge swimming challenge, or even just a challenge put on by your local gym! Training and preparing for one of these activities will give you something to look forward to other than the holiday!
Idea #3: Volunteer
The holiday season is a great time of year to give back. Check your local area for sites that may need volunteers. Even if you don’t want to serve food at a homeless shelter, you can likely find places like animal shelters or the fitness events mentioned above that need volunteers!
Holiday Activities for Kids
While your kids can participate in a December Challenge with you, we find the below activities to be a little more child-friendly.
Idea #1: Make Healthy Fun Food
We know that these activities are supposed to keep your mind off of food, but we also know your kids need to eat! Make healthy eating fun by making fruits and vegetables into fun shapes.
Some examples include using a cookie cutter on non-cookie cooking projects, making guacamole into the shape of the grinch, or making something simple like ants on a log! Your kids will enjoy their snacks, and you won’t feel tempted by unhealthy foods!
Idea #2: Ice Skating or Hiking
Kids also tend to experience less activity during the holiday season. Work to find some fun physical activities that they can enjoy with you. We strongly recommend ice skating or hiking if you live in an area where either of these is possible. If you don’t, even just a walk around the block to see the neighbor's Christmas lights can be a lot of fun!
For more information about planning a holiday hike, watch our video about Going for a Family Hike.
Idea #3: Christmas Crafts
Part of maintaining a healthy mindset is letting your kids (and yourself) have time to be creative! Grab some craft supplies from your local craft store, or order a craft kit off Amazon and let your kids spend some time making cool ornaments! You can even have them make more than one and give the extras as gifts.
Final Thoughts About Healthy Holiday Activities
Overall, no matter what activities from this list you decide to do with your family, it’s important to stay healthy and active during the holiday season. This can make all the difference in your mental health as well as your physical health. So grab your family and head out for some fun holiday adventures!
Healthy Holiday Activities FAQ:
How Can I Make My Holidays Healthier?
You can make your holidays healthier by staying active and avoiding the temptation to make the holidays all about food. Try to do as many non-food activities as possible to keep yourself from snacking on sweets.
What Activities Do You Do On a Holiday?
On a holiday, when many places are closed, one of the best activities you can do is go for a walk with your family around the neighborhood. You’ll see some great Christmas lights, and it will get you up and moving. You can also play board games with your family–but look for the more active games like Twister!
What Are Some Healthy Activities To Do at Home?
Make Christmas crafts
Go for a walk around the block to see Christmas lights
Make snow angels/snowmen
Play active board games like Twister
Workout in a home gym
Yoga
Meditation
How Can I Stay Active During the Holidays?
The best way to stay active during the holidays is to plan a physical activity for each day. Some days you can do something simple like an after-dinner walk, while other days, you can head all out and go ice skating or for a winter hike!
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