• by December 31, 2013

Is it okay to take a break from health? In American culture, as well as many other cultures around the world, the winter holiday season is synonymous with overindulgence. It’s a time when a healthy lifestyle is put on the back burner, and overeating, excessive drinking, and added stress find their way to the front. For many, shopping becomes the exercise of choice, and sweating over which gift to buy replaces sweating on the treadmill. Even people who ordinarily follow healthy routines may fall back on the old alibi “it’s that time of year” to justify changes in eating, exercise, and lifestyle habits. A Google search offers a seemingly endless choice of “survival tips,” suggesting that what people really want is to buck the tendency to overdo it. But is this break from routine really such a bad thing? Maybe the notion that we can collectively “go wild” reinforces our commitment to “be good” the rest of the year. 

Holiday cheer

There is certainly a group or herd mindset that flourishes during the holiday season. It’s as if your holiday experience won’t be as complete and worthwhile if you don’t indulge. At the workplace and around family, it’s very common to see people rewarded for indulging. It becomes the  “currency” for many a holiday “transaction.” There are, of course, groups of people who support each other to maintain health at holiday time. One example is the midnight run on New Year’s Eve in Central Park. But, by and large, we are encouraged, often pressured, by those around us to enjoy ourselves. 

Bringing it all back home

One factor that experts agree contributes to such widespread overindulgence is the added stress that the holiday season carries with it. Whether it’s trying to make things perfect, or being disappointed that they’re not, the holidays come with lots of pressure. And, as much fun as it may be, spending time with family and friends also carries with it elements of stress. And that, as many of us will immediately recognize, is an understatement. Of course, this stress opens the door for the quick fix of what is now being termed “emotional eating and drinking.” 

Been there. Done that

So none of this is news, right? Holiday time means extra temptation, extra stress, and less self-control. And we know it’s coming: it happens every year. Rather than learn from the past and follow some of those survival tips we can find so easily online, the reality is that most of us don’t. We take our health holiday year after year. And you know what? Maybe that’s okay. Maybe knowing that we are permitted a holiday (and that, if we’ve taken one, enjoyed it) motivates us to stay on course the other 11 months of the year. Could be. Knowing that there is a finite end to the holiday madness certainly plays a significant role. The approaching new year gives us permission to overdo, and then gives us a starting point to get back on track.

Studies show that the average weight gain for people during the holiday season is one pound. This sounds pretty manageable, until you realize that it’s the collective pounds that matter. “If I gain a pound every December from now on, by the time I’m …” Not so good after all. So there is the motivation to work extra hard in January, February, and March. 

Having fun. Wish you were here

So, rather than being a Health Grinch, posting “survival tips” at every office party and on each refrigerator door to get through the holidays, maybe it’s actually healthier to allow ourselves some leeway and enjoy—within reason of course. A worthwhile challenge would be to harness the same peer pressure that encouraged us to eat an extra holiday cookie into encouragement to run an extra mile the rest of the year. Which is exactly the idea behind fitness bands like Nike+, Jawbone Up, and Fitbit. They help us track our progress, and also share and compare it with the progress of others. 

Creating long-lasting positive health changes takes a sense of purpose and commitment. But a conscious, acknowledged break—a holiday—could actually be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to a strategy for long-term healthier (and happier) living.

Andrew Marvel contributed to this article.