There are many decisions to be made in December. I’m not just talking about deciding what to buy mom or dad: you need to decide whether you’re comfortable with socializing, the financial burden that comes with it, and – if you’re ready to party – the extent to which you want to have fun . After all, it’s time to celebrate, and if you want, there is a reason to celebrate every evening.
Realistically, we can’t do that. We have responsibilities, work and our health that we need to think about. Finding this balance is barely manageable all year round, but in December the temptation to choose “fun” instead of exercise or diet is even greater than usual. Therein lies the problem: The belief that partying – stereotyped drink and stay out for a long time – it’s fun, and exercise is the opposite. I agree with the first half of the sentence. With the latter, I refuse.
I understand where this attitude comes from. Movement is seen as the opposite of fun because so often we have to learn it first. Unfortunately, it is called training after all. According to Sport England, most women in England do not grow up actively (or tend to stop activities during puberty). They tend to be upset about exercising because they know they “should” in order to take care of themselves. For many, exercise is also viewed as a form of punishment, either for what they ate, what they are about to eat, or, more generally, as a tool to try to change something in themselves. On the other hand, partying … well, I don’t have to tell you that of course most people can enjoy being with their friends with a drink in hand.
During the holidays you can do both – party and sport
Other than that, polarizing these two activities doesn’t help. When it comes to Christmas, it’s charged. We have headlines telling us how to “keep” our exercise routine like it’s a burden to carry through December, a burden on people’s ankles at bars. Choosing to keep the movement going is viewed as morally superior – but totally boring and often a cause for ridicule – while parties are viewed as socially superior, lighthearted, and exciting. Is there a middle way somewhere?
I don’t think the middle ground is in not drinking at night or going early to get a good night’s sleep. What shoud that? It means you will cut everything in half. In fact, I find it annoying that people regularly seem surprised when I have another drink in hand or when I’m one of the last. “Shouldn’t you be ‘healthy’?” Friends of friends will ask me with raised eyebrows.
I don’t believe in extremes either: please, please, please don’t crash a HIIT session with a hangover. Instead, I think we just need to stop seeing sociability and health as opposite ends of the spectrum. In fact, exercising can be a lot of fun, and partying can be very healthy. According to one of Harvard’s longest-running studies of human behavior, social health is the most important factor in longevity. And we all know that exercise releases endorphins and makes us feel great.
You don’t have to trade all the exercise for partying, nor do you need to suggest that your office would rather go to a treadmill class than the bar for the Christmas party. I say we can do both. We can go to parties and play sports. We can have nibbles and we can eat real plates of nutritious meals. We can drink alcohol and we can drink water. That might sound silly, because of course we can. You do that month after month anyway. But it’s a good reminder that these two hobbies don’t make your life either of two extremes – they can both be things that you enjoy.
In fact, exercising can be a lot of fun and partying can be very healthy
The vision of standing alone in the gym at 7am may not scream “fun”. That’s fine, it doesn’t have to be your sport – maybe you find joy in a boxing class or love running to a Christmas playlist. It might even be better for you to take low-intensity alternatives to avoid overloading your body.
Personally, I find that prioritizing exercise the first place in my day – a gentle walk when I’m hungover or tired, and a proper workout when I’m not – means that I then do the rest of my activities throughout the day can be present. In this sense, exercise makes my parties more enjoyable. I love the fact that these two parts of my life are mutually reinforcing rather than contradicting each other as we are always told.
Remember, exercise is something you can do instead of having to, and parties is something you can and don’t have to do. This is a good place to start when trying to get a grip on what your body needs right now. Neither of these have any moral value, you don’t have to speak out for or against an activity, you can just do both whenever you want.
