The Thrill of Christmas Morning
and tapping into playful vibes when it comes to your hot habits
Growing up, Christmas morning always meant one thing: presents that promised play. There was the year we got a basketball hoop, the time I got a bike, the year we got a trampoline, and my absolute favorite, when I got rollerskates.
The thrill of Christmas morning as a kid was immediately playing with these new toys. And tbh the excitement never wore off, I was hooked on having fun! I would later try out for the basketball team, eventually bike for milesssss competing in half ironmans, buy a mini trampoline after I took ONE rebounder workout class and was reminded how much fun it was, and at least once a week I lace up my rollerblades to take a loop around the block.
Here’s what I learned from all those Christmas mornings and what they sparked in me every year: delight in the playfulness of what would one day be exercise, but that I only knew at the time as fun.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
This is the time of the year that our normal rhythms and routines tend to make way for holiday cheer, quality time with family and friends, and navigating travel or hosting duties. For me personally, the frequency and length of my normal workouts has diminished. Not to nothing, but certainly not to pre-Thanksgiving levels.
That’s what I love about micro habits: the whole point is to stay consistent during the most wonderful time of the year. And as we count down to the end of the year, I hear my younger self urging me: just make it all play!
Healthier Habits: Exercise
Exercise is another one of those keystone habits that gives you so much juice for the squeeze and hits it all:
Healthier. Moving your body boosts your immune system, improves cardiovascular health, and improves your overall quality of life. It’s the foundation that makes everything else work better.
Hotter. Exercise gives you that glow that no amount of skincare can replicate: increased energy, better mood, more confidence and that post-workout radiance that comes from the endorphins flowing.
Smarter. Working out literally grows your brain by increasing blood flow and promoting neuroplasticity. It sharpens focus, enhances memory, and reduces brain fog. Some of your best ideas will come to you mid-movement.
Richer. When you’re energized and clear-headed from exercise, you show up better in every area of life...Healthy is wealth, honey!
TLDR; exercise is one of those total package of habits: it will make you hotter, richer, smarter, and healthier.
And the secret magic to creating consistency? Making it play, obviously.
Crafting Your End-of-Year “PLAY” List
Remember that Christmas morning energy? When you couldn’t wait to try out your brand new toy? That thrill is still available to you. You just have to tap into it, here’s a quick guide to how to do it:
What would younger-you delight in? To answer this question, consider culling through old photos of yourself to look for clues, ask your parents or siblings what kind of activities they remember you loving, or just close your eyes and see if you can connect with younger-you and ask her! This is the start of your play-list.
What thrills today-you? Not what you should be doing or could be doing, what would be an absolutely yes for you if someone called you up and said “let’s go…” Consider activities you have done this year that could qualify as exercise and jot down all the ones that totally lit-you-up. This is the continuation of your play-list.
Make it more fun with friends (or make it a family affair). Long overdue for a much needed catch up with a friend? Opt for something active instead of traditional lunch or drinks plans. Do you have kids in your life that are unwrapping new fun toys that they can’t wait to play with? Go play with them. This is where you take your play-list into real life.
Decide your smallest dose: Go through your play-list and identify at least one thing on the list that doesn’t take long and call it your smallest dose. Have more than one smallest dose if you can, for the days when you literally only have a minute to spare. Maybe it’s dancing to your favorite song, maybe it’s skipping to the end of the driveway and back. This is where you give yourself an easy-button on your play-list.
Recreate that new toy thrill: Borrow or buy a new thrilling thing to play with for fun and exercise and create that new toy thrill. It doesn’t have to last, you don’t have to stick with it for 21 days, it just has to delight you to try it out. This is where you add a shiny-object to your playlist in the form of a new toy.
Prioritize play, sweetie, and the rest will follow!
May Your Days Be Merry & Bright,
Steph
