With the countdown to Christmas upon us, the holiday season is well and truly getting underway. Many of us find ourselves drinking more alcohol, eating more festive foods and hitting snooze on a lot more early workouts. After all, who could blame you for missing that post-Christmas party 6am barre class?

While the holidays are a time to relax, enjoy the company of your loved ones and indulge, doing so doesn’t have to come at the cost of your health and fitness goals. You can still have your cake (or pudding) and eat it too! If you’re looking to bring a little balance into your summer routine, follow these six tips to enjoy the season while staying healthy.

Stay Hydrated

Heat and air conditioning (or coming in from the cold to heated rooms for our friends in the Northern Hemisphere ☃ ), alcohol and indulgent foods are not a good combination when it comes to hydration. Make sure you drink plenty of the good stuff – H2O! This can help to reduce the effects the next day and slow down your consumption of alcohol and festive foods. Start a Christmas party with a big glass of water, set yourself a drink cap and alternate each alcoholic drink with big glass of water after that. Or, ideally ditch the booze and opt for a yummy mocktail instead (like our jingle juice or these kombucha cocktails).

Get Up and Go!

The morning is often the quietest time of the day over the silly season. If the rest of your household is sleeping, enjoying a holiday lie-in, take the chance to get up and get in a sweat before the festivities start. If you need a little boost to get going, opt for a clean energy source like Clean Coffee, which combines Columbian coffee with MCT and Bluenesse, a potent cortisol-lowering ingredient. Or, try Lorna’s wake-up smoothie here ????

Balance Your Plate

If you’re the one in charge of the menu, make a few healthy swaps to lighten up your festive spreads. Grilled or fresh seafood is a delicious, healthy option. Include plenty of salads and serve fresh fruit at dessert alongside puddings or cakes. When it comes to filling your own plate, don’t skimp on the treats you enjoy but try to create a balanced meal. Load up on vegetables (ideally, half your plate) and limit your intake of fatty meats, sauces and deep fried sides.

Make Festivities Active

Silly season means plenty of socialising with friends, family and colleagues. If you would normally catch up over a long lunch and a few wines, try changing it up this year with something a little healthier. Think a family cricket match, a bushwalk/hike or a bike ride and brunch.

The ‘silly’ season is a time to enjoy yourself and the company of your loved ones. By approaching this time of year mindfully, you can make the most of the season while still staying on track with your healthy lifestyle and goals. If you overindulge – don’t worry! Have a big glass of water and move on. All it takes is that first step out of bed the next morning to get you back on track.

Happy holidays!

Here are some more of our hot tips on making the holidays healthier:

Meet 23 year old Bondi-based, Sarah. She’s a law & media student, recipe developer and fitness lover. Her blog, Sarah’s Spoonful, was born from her passion for living a balanced, healthy and happy life on a student budget. Sarah wants to inspire people to live a truly healthy lifestyle without rules or restrictions. She shares easy recipes, fitness tips and her favourite gyms and studios on her Instagram (@sarahsspoonful) and her blog (sarahsspoonful.com).