Stay Active and Pain-Free This Christmas: Top Tips for Managing Your Health During the Holidays

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and spending quality moments with family and friends. But, as exciting as it is, Christmas can also bring about physical strain. Between shopping, decorating, cooking, and even sitting for long hours, it’s easy to feel physically exhausted or sore. Many people also experience neurological fatigue or neuro-related discomfort, especially if they are managing conditions like Functional Neurological Disorder, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis or chronic pain. This year, why not gift yourself the joy of staying healthy and active, while avoiding those pesky holiday aches and pains? Here are some practical tips to keep you moving and feeling great throughout the festive season.

1. Pace Yourself During Holiday Shopping and Decorating

The holidays often involve a lot of hustle and bustle, with shopping, decorating, and preparing for family gatherings. These activities can strain the body, especially if you're carrying heavy bags, lifting boxes of decorations, or bending and reaching in awkward positions. To avoid unnecessary aches and pains, it's important to pace yourself. Here are some tips:

• Break it Up: Instead of doing all your shopping or decorating in one go, spread it out over several days. This will prevent you from overloading your body all at once.

• Lift Correctly: When lifting heavy items like gift bags, grocery bags, or boxes of decorations, remember to squat down and use your legs, not your back. Keep the load close to your body and avoid twisting your torso while lifting.

• Take Regular Breaks: If you're standing or walking for extended periods, take breaks every 30-45 minutes. Sit down for a few minutes or walk around to keep your muscles active and prevent stiffness.

• Wear Supportive Shoes: If you’re doing a lot of walking or standing (e.g., shopping or decorating), wear comfortable, supportive shoes to prevent strain on your lower back, hips, and feet.

If you’re feeling any discomfort, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a physiotherapist for targeted advice. A mobile physiotherapy session can be especially convenient during the busy festive season—without needing to leave home!

2. Don’t Let Holiday Stress Create Tension

The holiday season can bring a lot of joy, but it can also be stressful. Between family gatherings, shopping, and preparing meals, your body might start to feel the effects of stress—tight shoulders, headaches, or even back pain. Here are some simple relaxation techniques to help alleviate that tension:

• Deep Breathing: Slow, deep breaths can help activate your parasympathetic nervous system (the "rest and digest" part of your body) and reduce stress. Take a few minutes throughout your day to sit quietly, close your eyes, and focus on breathing in for four counts, holding for four, and breathing out for four. This simple exercise can significantly lower your stress levels.

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR): This technique involves tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups in your body. Start with your feet, tense the muscles for a few seconds, and then release. Work your way up your body, focusing on areas that might be holding tension like your shoulders, back, or jaw. This will help you identify and release physical stress.

• Gentle Stretching: Stretching can help relieve physical tension caused by stress. Try simple stretches like neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, or a gentle forward bend to stretch the back and hamstrings. Yoga poses like Child’s Pose or Cat-Cow can be particularly effective at releasing stress and improving flexibility.

• Mindful Relaxation: Take a few moments each day to practice mindfulness—whether it's during a walk, while drinking your morning coffee, or even while wrapping gifts. Focus on the sensations of the moment, like the warmth of the cup in your hand or the soft texture of a scarf. Being mindful of your surroundings can lower anxiety and reduce physical tension.

For those dealing with chronic stress or conditions like Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neuron Disease, physiotherapy can be incredibly helpful to provide techniques to relieve stress.

3. Keep Moving with Festive Fun Activities

Staying active during the holidays doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, some of the best ways to stay moving can be fun, festive activities that you can enjoy with family and friends. Here are some simple ways to keep your body active while having fun:

• Take a Christmas Light Walk: After dinner or on a weekend evening, head out for a walk around the neighbourhood to admire the Christmas lights. It's a low-impact activity that gets your body moving, and the holiday decorations make it even more enjoyable.

• Stretching Routine Before or After Meals: Holiday meals are often long and indulgent. To counteract the effects of sitting for long periods, incorporate some gentle stretches into your day. Even something as simple as standing up and stretching every 30 minutes can keep your muscles loose and your circulation flowing.

• Gentle Yoga or Tai Chi: If you're looking for a more mindful way to stay active, try some gentle yoga or Tai Chi at home. These practices focus on breathing, balance, and flexibility, and can be a great way to relieve stress while staying active. There are many online classes available that are beginner-friendly and festive-themed!

For individuals with specific mobility challenges, at-home physio is an excellent way to receive personalised care, physiotherapy at home ensures you can stay active in a comfortable, familiar environment.

4. Bonus Tip: Rest and Recover

While staying active is key, don't forget to prioritise rest and recovery too. The holiday season can be physically demanding, so taking time to rest and recharge is essential. Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and allowing your muscles time to recover after long days of activity. If you feel any aches or pains cropping up, it’s always a good idea to schedule a physiotherapy session to ensure you're on track for a pain-free holiday season.

Your Health is a Gift Too

The holidays are a time to celebrate, share moments with loved ones, and enjoy delicious food and fun traditions. But it’s also a time to take care of your health. Whether you’re shopping, decorating, or enjoying time with family, be sure to keep your body in mind and give yourself the gift of self-care this Christmas.

If you do find yourself dealing with aches or pains this holiday season, Project Rehab Mobile Physio is here to help. From post-shopping back pain to stiff shoulders after a day of decorating, our mobile physiotherapy services can help you recover so you can enjoy the festive season without worry.

Serving areas across the Sunshine Coast including Maroochydore, Buderim, Mooloolaba, Birtinya, and Caloundra, as well as Brisbane, we offer convenient mobile physiotherapy and neuro physiotherapy to help you stay active and pain-free this Christmas. Whether you're managing a chronic condition, recovering from an injury, or just need some tips on staying healthy during the holidays, we’ve got you covered.

Contact Project Rehab Mobile Physio today to book your appointment and get personalised care at home. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year!

Why Choose Project Rehab for Neurological Physiotherapy?

Choosing Project Rehab means partnering with a team that prioritises your progress and well-being. Here’s why clients trust us with their neuro physiotherapy:

• Experienced Neuro Physios: Our team go above and beyond to ensure the highest level of care!

• Flexible Scheduling: We work with your schedule to make therapy easy and accessible!

• NDIS Registered Provider: As an NDIS-approved provider, we help streamline access to neurological physiotherapy services for clients on the NDIS program.

Begin Your Journey to Recovery

Ready to take the next step? Book your at-home neurological physiotherapy appointment with Project Rehab today. Our skilled neuro physios are here to help you achieve your goals and enhance your quality of life.

• What is at-home physiotherapy?

  At-home neurological physiotherapy brings physiotherapy to you, allowing for the highest level of comfort and convenience.

• Who can benefit from physiotherapy?

  Physiotherapy can benefit individuals with a wide range of needs. Some conditions include: Amputees. Acquired Brain Injury, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as various intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and chromosomal disorders, among others.

• Is Project Rehab NDIS Registered?

  Yes, Project Rehab is a registered NDIS provider, making it easy for clients on the NDIS program to receive neurological physiotherapy.