Well, now we have hit December, and for many of us, there is no escaping the huge amount of things we need to get done before the Christmas Holiday. Often our usual routines slip by the wayside, and we neglect our exercise and healthy eating plans. Time goes too quickly, and we end up tired, stressed and trying to fit everything in at the last minute. So this week, here are some time-saving tips, to help you cope with the Christmas rush:

1. Get your shopping delivered: Most Organic and farm box schemes will also deliver milk, eggs, cheese, yoghurt and meat. Riverford Organics who deliver throughout much of the South in the UK also deliver cereal, biscuits, wine, Christmas goods, veggie burgers, and have a separate meat box scheme www.riverford.co.uk Other areas will probably have similar schemes running. Supermarkets also provide internet shopping and delivery. After the initial time spent deciding your weekly order, this could save you (including travel time), an hour or more each week. 1 Hour Saved. (3 hours up to Christmas).

2. Send e-cards to everyone in your email address book: Save time, money, and the planet at the same time. You can label them environmentally-friendly Christmas Cards, so that you don’t appear miserly! 1 Hour Saved.

3. Buy Christmas presents on line: Save all that time driving, parking, and traipsing around the shops feeling stressed. There are plenty of fabulous things to buy on the internet; for example,

• Visit www.greatgifts.org and buy something to change the life of someone less fortunate than ourselves; a fruit tree for £8, a goat for £12, a life-saving mosquito net for only £5 or immunize a child against 6 life-threatening diseases for only £20.

• If you don’t want to buy on line, then save time by making a clear list, so that you can focus your efforts, and don’t wander aimlessly.

• Buy everyone a book, visit one shop and get everything there, most book shops will have great 3 for 2 offers on at the moment.

• Alternately, subscribe someone to the Get Fitter Newsletter! 2 Hours + saved.

4. Get organized; sit down and write lists of all the things that you need to do, then get out your diary, and put something to do on each page, spreading the list over the next few weeks. You may surprise yourself how much easier preparing for Christmas (or any other event) can be, and you will avoid having all your time taken up in the last few days before Christmas. Wrap presents as soon as you get them, so that you do not end up spending hours wrapping stuff last-minute. Time Saved- 1 day or more!

5. Delegate: do you end up doing everything while your family seems to do nothing? Have you heard the excuse, ‘but you are so much better at choosing for mum/peeling sprouts/ cooking/organizing.’ Do you find

• Pick up a catalogue and send your partner or older children to the book shop with a list (surely that is foolproof?).

• Ask house guests to bring a meal/pudding/games, and get them to help out- they probably want to.

• Get the children to make and write the Christmas cards- much more meaningful than a shop-bought one.

• Enlist the whole families help cleaning/preparing vegetables and making food. This can be fun and rather festive (honest).

• Ask for help from relatives with babysitting so that you can get on with things without being disturbed. Look out for fun events at your local Sports Centre for bigger kids, so that they can do something energetic for a few hours while you get on with things.

• Give everyone in your household a job that will save you time.

• Be honest- are you trying too hard and making work for yourself which isn’t necessary- do you really need to hand-paint fir cones before the relatives arrive? Time saved 1 Hour +.

Now that you have saved up to 13 hours over the run up to Christmas, you have NO EXCUSE for missing your regular exercise sessions. Use the extra time to go for stress-busting walks or swims. Put them in a diary and make sure you do not miss out! Stay active over the festive season, and you will stay healthier, happier and feel less-stressed, and more in control.

You know it makes sense.

Until next time, take care and stay healthy! Vikki.

Do you have any friends and family who could benefit from getting fitter and feeling better? If you do, then treat them to free copy of this newsletter, forward it to them, and get them to e-mail me with a request. E-mail getfitter@yahoo.co.uk subject: newsletter request. Would you like to bring health into the workplace? Get fitter now offers a corporate package, including yoga classes/courses, Nutrition seminars, conference breaks, Company Wellness days and Healthy Friday a monthly wellness event. Please visit www.corporatechill.com

If you no longer wish to receive this e-mail me at getfitter@yahoo.co.uk subject: end newsletter subscription. The information contained in the Get fitter Newsletter is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of or treatment that may be prescribed by your physician. Before adhering to any recommendations or undertaking any exercise program or diet regimen, you should consult your physician.

Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser and runs successful Community Exercise classes. Vikki is a consultant in Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living newsletters.

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