Happy Holidays Start with Healthy Habits

We’re just getting started with the holiday season but already it’s easy to feel like we’re in a seasonal rat race. Gift shopping, holiday work parties, and festive get togethers with family. Your residents’ days and evenings can get so full that pretty soon the most joyful time of the year can end up feeling like another job to get done. In fact, a study released this month by Ohio State University Wexler Medical Center suggests as many as two thirds of people overindulge with treats and drinking and more than 45% take a break from the exercise routines that keep them healthy and active. This season give your residents the gift of healthy habits and follow these simple steps to help them stay on track with their fitness goals without ever needing to stray too far from home.

Engage people with your content platform

If you’re using a content platform like Fitness On Demand in your fitness facility, it’s capable of doing so much more than helping residents access a workout. It’s an engagement tool to help residents engage with a lifestyle that you create on their doorsteps. Try streaming events a couple of times over the holidays direct to apartments across your building to encourage your residents to interact with your platform for a broader variety of content. Stream a holiday cookie baking demo or bring in a local influencer or store owner to do a seasonal craft session. Once you’ve got their attention, make sure to promote the catalog of cardio, strength and fitness content as well as the mindfulness and wellness sessions that can help residents stay balanced and happy at this stressful time of year. 

Build community with challenges and charity

Buildings are about building community so find ways to get your residents involved and networked with each other for the holidays – and beyond. Try a seasonal building-wide workout challenge in the run up to the holidays, or just before New Year when people are thinking ahead beyond seasonal overindulging to forming healthier habits. Your on-demand app should make it easy to select, name and launch a virtual fitness challenge direct to your residents’ phones, laptops and smart screens. It could be a virtual “reindeer fun run” using treadmills in your gym or around the building’s grounds. Or add a fundraising goal for a local charity or worthy cause in the neighborhood. The key is bringing your residents together and creating foundations for new, supportive interactions and relationships. 

Wellness check-ins before the ball drops

Organize and promote a series of drop-in wellness events for residents. Use your building’s fitness facility to offer in-person weight, blood pressure and lifestyle assessments to help identify overall wellness goals for 2024. Maybe have your fitness facility manager or a local freelance fitness instructor help plan workout programs for the New Year for residents to follow – both in your facility and using the Fitness On Demand app in their homes. You can customize these kinds of simple events in a wide variety of ways: healthy snacks and advice on better holiday nutrition, seasonal recipe sharing, stretch and recovery consultations and help with getting the most from your wellness and fitness library to get residents on the right path for the New Year. 

Don’t forget healthy habits aren’t all work

At a time of year when most people are thinking of being with family and friends, treating themselves and easing off their workout programs a little, it’s important to have a little fun too. Decorate the communal areas of your building and organize a series of evening social happy hours or a holiday party to bring everyone together, bring in carol singers or organize a holiday buffet. Options are endless. And don’t miss the opportunity to let your residents know that your team is there for them year-round by asking what facilities and services they’re interested in for 2024 and the months ahead.