Have a Healthy Holidays!
Eating too much food? Not getting enough exercise? Being under too much stress? Being exposed to colds and flu? Holiday blues got you down? Here are some tips and tricks to kick those holiday obstacles to the curb!
- Carrying Christmas Trees. When carrying a Christmas tree, lift with your legs and knees. Avoid lifting with your back which can lead to chronic lower back problems. If a tree is too heavy for one person, be sure to ask for help. Never carry more than what you are capable of, it can possibly damage your spine.
- Don’t Sit Too Long. While sitting during holiday gatherings, don’t forget to get up and move your back and legs. Sitting down for long periods of time can strain your neck and can possibly cause herniated discs. Sit with a proper posture to avoid straining your body.
- Stretch. Stretching can help improve your body’s flexibility and movement. Stretching encourages blood circulation to your body reducing the chances of suffering from chronic pain. Try to stretch when you get a moment of free time in between holiday parties or after waking up.
- Eat Healthy. Foods rich in calcium such as yogurt, milk and cheese should be present at the dinner table to promote healthy bone structure and growth. For those lactose intolerant, vegetables such as spinach should be incorporated for you calcium needs.Treat Holiday Shopping as an Athletic Event
- Stay hydrated! Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
- Be sure to stretch before and after a long day of shopping or decorating. When you are stressed-out, your muscles are less flexible than usual.
- Wear shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on hard surfaces and that will provide good support on ladders.
- Make sure your clothing is as comfortable as possible. It’s a good idea to wear layers, because you may be going from a cold environment (outdoors) to a warm environment (indoors).
- Leave your purse at home. Wear a light fanny pack, or if necessary, a light backpack instead. Pack only those items that are absolutely essential (driver’s license, credit card, etc.).
- If you start to feel some pain, try the following treatment: apply an ice bag to the affected area for 20 minutes, then take it off for a couple of hours. Repeat a couple of times each day over the next day or two.
Wrapping Your Gifts.
- Since there is no “ideal” position for wrapping gifts, the most important thing to remember is to vary your positions. For example, try standing at a table or counter-top for one package, sitting on a bed for another, sitting in a comfortable chair for another, etc.
- Do not wrap packages while sitting on the floor. Wrapping packages while sitting on a hard floor can wreak havoc on your posture, and should be avoided.
- Always stretch before and after you wrap gifts.
Stay safe while hanging those holiday lights!
- Don’t over reach. Use a step stool or ladder. Many times people want to get the decorating up and done, so to speak. Rushing the job can lead to mis-judging distances and over-reaching.
- Move the ladder down. When up on the ladder, don’t lean and reach. Keep your body centered on the ladder to maintain balance and decrease undue pressure on your spine and back.
- Use a two man lift team. When carrying heavy or cumbersome ornaments or trees, ask for help. Sometimes even very light but very large items can be dangerous to maneuver.
