Fitness that fits into festivities

Protecting fitness and mental health during this festive season can be easy if you are smart about it

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The festive season and partying can throw exercise routines out the window. You might be staying somewhere different, with no access to a gym. Maybe your yoga studio is closed or social sport is on a break. Or you might just be too flat out with social events to find the time.

For some people, a break from pushing their bodies will be exactly what they need. But others will want to keep up the fitness and strength they've been working on throughout the year and some will crave the mental release. Here are low-equipment, time-efficient strategies to keep you exercising through the break.

Staying fit

If you want to stay fit over the festive season, walking can be an easy and effective low-impact way to keep enjoying the health benefits of cardio exercise. But how much should you walk? The more steps you take each day, the lower your risk of dying early, from any cause. For adults 60 years and older, the benefits plateau around 6,000-8,000 steps a day, and for those under 60, at 8,000-10,000 steps. So these are good to aim for.