Beat The Holiday Blues

 For some the holidays can feel like a lonely time of year, leaving you with a bad case of the holiday blues.

One way to keep from feeling down in the dumps is to get to the gym.

"The holidays are really good about giving, and sometimes it’s really good to focus on yourself too," said Exercise Specialist at the Muskingum Recreation Center, Lauren Parker. "Physical activity promotes a release of endorphin in your body which leads to a trigger of a very positive feeling in yourself. So it’s good to focus on physical activity of doing 3-5 days a week at a moderate intensity and try to complete about 150 minutes of physical activity a week."

Foregoing fitness deprives you of those endorphin’s that might help boost your mood. The challenge, is getting yourself to the gym when you least feel like going.

"It’s very frustrating trying to get your schedule together," said Parker. "So it’s always good to try and set a schedule for yourself too even if it is just 30 minutes or an hour to get in and just get it done."

One way to keep motivated is to find a fitness buddy. You’re less likely to flake out when a friend is depending on you. Another option is to make deals with yourself, tell yourself you only have to be at the gym for ten minutes, after you’ve made it inside you’ll likely stay much longer and be on your way to a happier day.