A LiveWell Christmas

If this year, you’ve made some positive changes towards a healthier lifestyle, the Christmas period might feel a bit daunting. With endless boxes of chocolates, cheese boards (a personal favourite!) and mince pies, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But, there are lots of ways we can find balance while still enjoying the festive celebrations.

Temptation at Chritmas

Alcohol:

We all know that the amount of alcohol we drink can increase over the festive period. If you’re looking to be mindful of your intake, there are lots of things you can do. 

1. Plan how many drinks you are going to have at an event. It can be tricky to keep track of how many you’ve had, so going with a clear number can really help you stay on track.  

2. Pay attention to the number of units in each drink. Over a week, it’s advised to have no more than 14 units.  

3. Make some swaps! This could be to non-alcoholic drinks or ones with fewer units.  Some alcoholic drinks also contain a higher amount calories and sugar, so it’s useful to bare that in mind.  

4. Be open and honest with your friends and family about how much you want to drink. This will help you avoid tricky situations and you might even find a non-drinking buddy who shares a similar aim! 

5. Christmas festivities don’t have to involve alcohol. You could swap out a boozy night for a romantic movie night or enjoy a trip to the Christmas markets with friends. 

6. Be the designated driver and you’ll suddenly find yourself very popular! You can still enjoy the festivities whilst avoiding a hangover and making sure everyone gets home safely… definitely a win-win! 

Smoking:

With the increase in alcohol around Christmas, smoking can often follow. These two habits can influence each other and play havoc with our health and wellbeing goals! We also need to consider that the festive season can bring stress and if this is a trigger for you then it’s being midnful of how to reduce our stress levels.  

So, what can we do to avoid smoking at Christmas? 

1. Identify your smoking triggers. This could be people, places activities or even thoughts. It’s important to notice these and try not to dwell but figure out a way to manage them.  

2. Keeping busy can help distract us from the urge to smoke. Sometimes that might be heading out for a quick walk around the block (with a wooly hat of course!) or helping prepare the Christmas dinner.  

3. If you’re using NRT, then make sure you have all the product you need to get you through. Speak to our coaches for FREE resources and advice.  

4. We all know how tricky cravings can be but with the right alternatives, we can move past them. Have a think about what this could mean for you – a snack bar or a toothpick to chew… whatever works for you.  

Top LiveWell Christmas tips

Stay Active 

• Staying active is brilliant for both our physical and mental health and with the weather turning a little grey, it’s more important than ever to get out and get moving. Our favourite way to do it? Make plans that involve movement. That might be catching up with friends on a walk or heading to the beach for some fresh air. This way, you’re being social and active and your body and mind are going to thank you endlessly! Now is also a great time to start that activity you’ve been thinking about, give something new a go or think ahead to new year and start early. All of this can help us stay happy and healthy over the Christmas period.  

Plan ahead 

• If you’re tracking your food intake, try looking at your weekly meals rather than focusing on individual days. For example, if you have a Christmas party with a big meal, adjust your intake on other days so you can enjoy the event without guilt. It’s not about completely cutting out all the Christmas goodies but having it in moderation and the best way to do that is to think ahead.  

Create Balance 

• Now Christmas isn’t Christmas without a sweet treat or two but it’s also the time to indulge in cooking and be adventurous. Adding plenty of coloured vegetables to your meals like red cabbage and carrots whilst including a good source of protein, like turkey, makes for a very nutritious plate. It’s also the time to think back to those healthy swaps you’ve made whether it’s popcorn instead of crisps or fruit salad instead of Fruitella! 

Remember... 

• Don’t feel guilty. Enjoy the season! Overindulging for a week or two won’t undo the progress you’ve made. Balance is key, and your healthy habits will carry you through.?There will be times when you feel you are making more progress than others, a week or two where you lose a bit of your healthy routine is not the end of the world so don’t be too hard on yourself.

Try these ideas

There are lots of festive events in Dorset this Christmas to help you keep social and active. It’s  a great opportunity to try something new...

• Christmas Park Run - Special Events | parkrun UK

• Chase the Christmas pudding- Chase The Pudding 2025 - on Weymouth Beach

• Christmas Trail – Wareham - Enchanted Gardens Winter Light Trail - Visit Dorset 

• Studland walk - The Twelve Days of Christmas - Studland Style - Visit Dorset 

• Advent Trail - Rudolph's Advent Trail at the Fleet Air Arm Museum - Visit Dorset 

• Family Adventures -  Monty and Matilda - family quest - Visit Dorset 

• Discover more - Christmas & Festive Events in Dorset | Light Switch Ons & Markets

If you are actively seeking a new form of activity to get involved in, upcoming events for the month can be found below.  

• What's on this month - health and activities in Dorset - Dorset Council

• Activity Finder | A Movement for Movement | Dorset Activity

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