The silly season is fun, frantic and full of “I’ll just quickly do this” moments that your body doesn’t always love. It’s no wonder December and January can be a prime time for niggles, flare-ups and overuse injuries! 
 
Here’s our cheat sheet to help keep you moving so you can enjoy the festive fun with family and friends.

1. Break up the big jobs

Gift wrapping marathons, hours spent cooking, the endless house jobs… It’s easier said than done, but your body prefers short bursts, not strenuous sessions. 
Tip: Break things into 10–15 minute blocks and shake out your hands, neck and shoulders between tasks. A quick reset can be just what your body needs.

2. Lift smart (even when you’re rushing)

Our bodies do plenty of heavy lifting (and we don’t just mean metaphorically) over the festive season. Between the mountain of groceries, boxes of gifts and loading and unloading the car for road trips, it can all add up fast and put extra strain on your body.  
Tip: It’s a tale as old as time, but bend your knees, keep items close to your body and avoid twisting with weight. Your back will thank you.

3. Stretch the stress away

A few quick stretches throughout your day can stop little niggles from turning into bigger problems. We love the stretches below for improving flexibility and relieving muscle tension and stress: 

• Child’s pose: Kneel, sit back on your heels, fold forward with your chest to the floor, arms extended out in front or by your sides. Take slow, deep breaths. 

• Neck side stretch: Gently tilt your head to one side, feeling the stretch in your neck. Using a hand for light pressure, gently hold, then repeat on the other side. 

• Seated spinal twist: Standing tall, twist your torso one way, placing one hand behind you and the other on the opposite knee. Look over your shoulder, breathe and then switch to the other side. 

• Chest opener: Clasp your hands behind your back and gently pull your shoulders back to open your chest. 

• Cat-cow stretch: Begin on your hands and knees with your wrists under your shoulders and knees under hips, like a tabletop. As you inhale, curve your lower back, bringing your head up and tilting your pelvis (cow). As you exhale, bring your belly in, arching your spine (cat).  

• Hip flexor stretch: Step one foot forward into a lunge, keep your torso upright, back leg as straight as comfortable and gently shift your weight forward until you feel a stretch at the front of your hip of your back leg. 

4. Don’t forget to warm up

Backyard cricket or beach volleyball maybe making their appearance in your life over the summer holidays, so give your body the 2-3 minutes it deserves by moving before you play. Swing your legs, move your arms in circles or do a couple of gentle lunges to help get you in shape to “perform”.

5. Get ahead of any niggles

If something feels “off,” now’s the time to get it sorted. A quick physio check can stop a tiny neck niggle, back twinge or hip pain from becoming a not-so-jolly interruption to your holiday. Our Life Ready physios can assess what’s going on, provide a treatment plan and give you simple, practical advice to keep you moving through the silly season. 

 Disclaimer: If you’re working through an injury or managing a medical condition, just touch base with your physio before trying anything new as we want to make sure you’re moving safely and confidently.