The Christmas and New Year period is a great time to unwind, spend time with family and enjoy a break from routine. But it’s also a time when injuries flare, training habits change and niggles that were under control suddenly become much more noticeable.

Here’s how to stay healthy(ish) this festive season without feeling like you need to be perfect.

1. Keep Moving, Even If It’s Less Than Usual
Your routine will change — and that’s fine. Short walks, bodyweight exercises, a light run or a quick beach swim all help keep joints and muscles happy. It doesn’t need to be structured to be beneficial.

2. Pace Yourself With Activities You’re Not Used To
Christmas often brings unusual loads: backyard cricket, long days at the beach, extra gardening, more carrying, more cleaning and more time on your feet. If you haven’t done much of this lately, ease into it to avoid sudden flare-ups.

3. Look After the Injuries You Already Know About
If you have a tendon niggle, a sore back, an unpredictable knee or an old shoulder issue, now is NOT the time to abandon the basics. A few well-chosen exercises every second day can stop things from spiralling when life gets busy.

4. Don’t Ignore New Pain — Especially If It’s Sharp or Persistent
It’s easy to shrug off new aches during the silly season, but pain that is sharp, doesn’t settle within 48–72 hours or changes how you move is worth paying attention to. Early management makes things easier once January rolls around.

5. Enjoy Yourself — It’s Allowed
Health during Christmas isn’t about perfection. It’s about balance. Move when you can, rest when you need to, and enjoy food and celebrations without guilt. A couple of weeks of flexible routine won’t undo a year of good habits.

BeachLife Physiotherapy Is Open Across the Holiday Period
Outside of the public holidays, both our Narrabeen and Frenchs Forest clinics remain open throughout the Christmas and New Year period. If something flares, if a niggle won’t settle or if you’d simply like a tune-up before getting back into training, we’re here to help.

Wishing you and your family a safe, active and enjoyable festive season.