How to get back into a healthy routine after New Year

Kate Ng
·Trending Lifestyle Reporter
·4 min read
Female creative professional balancing freelance work with family care.
Getting the whole family organised can help with easing back into a healthy routine. (Getty Images)

It’s 2 January and many Britons are ready for a new start - gone are the lazy days of Christmas, Twixmas and New Year, what we are craving now is a good routine.

According to new research from HelloFresh, 72% of Britons reach a point over Christmas where they can’t wait to return to a healthy routine, with around a third (34%) pledging to get back into it on 2 January.

Even though the Christmas tree is still up and the children are still off school, many of us are raring to grab the new year by the horns and regain balance after all the excess of the holidays.

Getting back to a routine isn’t quite as easy, though, and requires a period of adjustment. HelloFresh found that 58% of people agree getting back into a routine is tough after weeks of lazing around and eating plenty of Christmas cheese.

But some signs you are ready for a new year include having the urge to exercise, whether it’s at the gym or simply going for a run (20%), and encouraging the family to sit at the table for meals rather than eating in front of the TV (6%).

To help you ease your way back into a healthy family routine, clinical psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado offers up her top tips.

She said: "Maintaining post-holiday balance doesn’t just happen. You have to make it happen. You need a game plan.

"This takes a little preparation but once you are set, it can build some healthy habits that you can continue throughout the year. Whether you are a ‘Fresh Starter’ bursting with energy and ready to take on the new year with a bang, a ‘Ghost of Christmas Past’, clinging to the festive spirit and not quite ready to let go of the tinsel - or something in between - there is a tip here for you to get you and your family back on track this January."

Single mother makes a weekly schedule at her desk and is holding her baby daughter. Shot inside of a home in Washington USA.
Invest in a calendar that the whole family can see what's happening when. (Getty Images)

Get yourself a calendar that you love and that can be hung somewhere the whole family can see it. This helps everyone know what’s happening when, so you can start the new year feeling organised and in control.

Aim to make dinner the heart of your day with a home-cooked meal at roughly the same time each evening. A little consistency can help everyone feel more grounded, especially after the holiday buzz.

January mornings are dark and can feel like a struggle. Reduce some of this by keeping fairy lights up to brighten up your kitchen or entrance, or light some candles at breakfast and imbue your mornings with a different atmosphere.

Active young Asian sports woman taking a break after working out at home, sitting on exercise mat taking a deep breath with her eyes closed. Sports and exercise routine. Health, fitness and wellness concept
Give yourself some time and space to have a breather. (Getty Images)

Plan to leave extra time before you leave your house and after you come back (or in-between activities) because children can drag their feet and take an age to do anything. This can be worse after the holidays as children miss being cosy and relaxed at home so rather than get frustrated when it happens, expect it and give yourself 15-20min breathing space.

Make moving your body a family ritual

Try something fun that sets you up for the day, such as these three moves before you head out the door:

  • Try to touch your toes (Bend your knees if it helps)

  • Stretch your arms towards the ceiling, tall like a tree

  • Roll your shoulders back for five counts and forward for five. Notice how your posture changes… Now you’re ready to go!

January can feel like 'all systems go' but our brains and bodies are still wintering, so if you want to have energy make sure you also protect time to rest and restore alone and as a family too. This might look like a walk in nature, watching a family film, cooking as a family, planning an hour of 'family quiet time' where you all do something quiet in a shared communal space (e.g. read books, do crafts, build something…).

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