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Balancing rest and physical activity over the holidays
12 December 2024
The holiday season is a time for many people to unwind from the year’s stress. Taking time to rest and recover is essential to help you recharge both your physical and mental health.
The importance of balancing rest and activity
Overworking yourself, even while enjoying the holiday festivities, can lead to burnout or intensify feelings of stress.
While physical activity helps to maintain and boost our overall health, mood, and energy levels, it’s important not to push yourself too hard in the heat of our Australian summer.
Summer activities and exercise
In Australia, the summer season provides a perfect opportunity to engage in outdoor activities like swimming, surfing, or hiking. It can be a time to get outside, join family or friends at the beach, and enjoy some non-strenuous physical activity.
Keeping active helps to balance the rich foods and sedentary activity that often comes with holiday celebrations. But keep in mind, it’s crucial to find your balance between downtime and outdoor activities to avoid exhaustion or heat-related issues.
Exercising for your mental health
Exercise can help those facing mental health concerns who may find their symptoms are exacerbated by the approach of the holidays. Participating in exercise and movement triggers the release of endorphins, our natural mood lifters that help to reduce stress, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.
Exercise also provides a constructive way to channel feelings and energy, offering a distraction from distressing thoughts and creating healthy ways to manage emotional and psychological challenges.
Support at Mates4Mates
Mates4Mates offers veterans and families access to our Skills for Recovery Programs that promote health and wellbeing amongst the community. These programs focus on fitness, wellness workshops, and educational sessions designed to support overall health.
We also offer physical rehabilitation and wellbeing services, supported by our exercise physiologists and physiotherapists who can help you to work toward your health and wellbeing goal in a way that is fit for your fitness level, body, and health concerns.
For more information about Mates4Mates services and how we can help to support you, reach out to us on 1300 4 MATES (62 837) for a confidential chat.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate support over the holiday period, contact 000 or attend your nearest hospital. For 24-hour support, phone Open Arms: 1800 011 046 or Lifeline: 13 11 14.
All Mates4Mates centres will be closed from end of day on Tuesday, 24 December 2024 to Wednesday, 1 January 2025, re-opening on Thursday, 2 January 2025.
Written by Baxter Mahutonga, Mates4Mates Clinical Lead – Physical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapist
Overworking yourself, even while enjoying the holiday festivities, can lead to burnout or intensify feelings of stress.
While physical activity helps to maintain and boost our overall health, mood, and energy levels, it’s important not to push yourself too hard in the heat of our Australian summer.
Summer activities and exercise
In Australia, the summer season provides a perfect opportunity to engage in outdoor activities like swimming, surfing, or hiking. It can be a time to get outside, join family or friends at the beach, and enjoy some non-strenuous physical activity.
Keeping active helps to balance the rich foods and sedentary activity that often comes with holiday celebrations. But keep in mind, it’s crucial to find your balance between downtime and outdoor activities to avoid exhaustion or heat-related issues.
Exercising for your mental health
Exercise can help those facing mental health concerns who may find their symptoms are exacerbated by the approach of the holidays. Participating in exercise and movement triggers the release of endorphins, our natural mood lifters that help to reduce stress, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.
Exercise also provides a constructive way to channel feelings and energy, offering a distraction from distressing thoughts and creating healthy ways to manage emotional and psychological challenges.
Support at Mates4Mates
Mates4Mates offers veterans and families access to our Skills for Recovery Programs that promote health and wellbeing amongst the community. These programs focus on fitness, wellness workshops, and educational sessions designed to support overall health.
We also offer physical rehabilitation and wellbeing services, supported by our exercise physiologists and physiotherapists who can help you to work toward your health and wellbeing goal in a way that is fit for your fitness level, body, and health concerns.
For more information about Mates4Mates services and how we can help to support you, reach out to us on 1300 4 MATES (62 837) for a confidential chat.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate support over the holiday period, contact 000 or attend your nearest hospital. For 24-hour support, phone Open Arms: 1800 011 046 or Lifeline: 13 11 14.
All Mates4Mates centres will be closed from end of day on Tuesday, 24 December 2024 to Wednesday, 1 January 2025, re-opening on Thursday, 2 January 2025.
Written by Baxter Mahutonga, Mates4Mates Clinical Lead – Physical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapist
