Four Ways to Bounce Back After the Holidays

The holidays are a time of food, family… And more food. It’s ok to indulge every once in awhile, but getting back in the groove of a healthy lifestyle after the holidays can feel like a drag.

Luckily, family fun can double as a chance to get active. Little dietary changes can make a world of difference in helping you feel your best.

Before you know it, you’ll be in tip-top shape for your Color-A-Thon this spring!

1. Going on a walk? Don’t leave your family behind.

Walks are for everyone, no matter the fitness or ability level, and they’re the ultimate portable exercise that can be done anytime or anywhere. They’re a great option after a heavy Christmas dinner or just as the day begins. Use it as a chance to explore the neighborhood with your kids. If you have a trail nearby, go geocaching together.

2. Play in the snow.

The next time your kids run outside to go play, don’t sit out. Build a snowman. Run and duck during a snowball fight. Walk up a big hill and take a sled ride down. Even throw on a pair of skates and take to the neighborhood skating rink. You’ll have so much fun, you won’t realize that you’re exercising, but you’ll still get your heart pumping and muscles engaged.

3. Don’t be afraid to get back into routine.

Do you normally eat a salad everyday for lunch? Don’t feel pressured to eat the holiday leftovers. Our bodies thrive with routine, and returning to some sense of structure as soon as possible can help you bounce back. In addition, returning to more balanced meals with carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats can keep up your energy instead of letting your blood sugar crash, which holiday meals tend to do. The same goes for your kids - especially as they prepare to get back into their school routines.

4.Get plenty of sleep.

But don’t sleep in. Returning to your typical sleep schedule will help you feel more rested in the long run than if you go to bed late and sleep late in the day. Yours kids might enjoy the added freedom, too, but help them stick to their schedule as much as possible. Scientists recommend turning off electronic devices before bed, because their lights can disrupt your sleep.

For more health and parenting tips and tricks this winter, head to School-A-Thon’s Facebook page!

Help Your Kids Make New Year's Resolutions Worth Keeping

How many times have you made a New Year’s resolution with the best of intentions only for it to fall through by Valentine’s Day? Committing to resolutions is never an easy feat, but it’s not impossible. Here are some tips to help your family make New Year’s resolutions worth sticking to this year.

Be mindful about resolutions and goals.  It’s important to talk about goals in a healthy way. As your family is discussing resolutions, have them think about the resolutions they are picking and discuss what successful-resolution keeping would mean to them. Focus on the positive of both past and future goals - a little optimism will go a long way. Pick healthy resolutions that will help them with long-term goals (i.e. “I will practice reading every night so I can read bigger books and expand my vocabulary). For healthy New Year’s resolution ideas for kids of all ages, check out this list from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Model resolution habits. It is important to have a ‘practice what you preach’ mentality as you are helping your kids keep their resolutions. This well help you stay accountable for your own resolutions and help instill a sense of responsibility in your child.

Everything is easier with a buddy. For many, buddying up with a sibling, parent, or friend makes sticking to a resolution a little bit easier. Consider making a family resolution, be it volunteering more often, cooking at home more often, or planning a family trip together. Resolutions can help bring your family closer together.

Set goals that help others. Kindness is the gift that keeps giving so it’s never too late to help your child set an altruistic resolution. Have your child make it a goal to help their school and organizations raise money through fundraising. You can learn more about the many kinds of fundraisers that Schoolathon offers in the links below:

Entrance Fee-Based Color-A-Thon Event

Donation-Based Color-A-Thon Event

“It’s Your Thon” School-A-Thon Event

Keeping resolutions successfully takes hard work, dedication, and commitment, but teaching your child that their hard work and commitment pays off is a glorious thing. Start the New Year with a clean slate and welcome all the possibilities to come.

Holiday Themed Color-A-Thon

Have you ever had problems creating a fun fundraising event in during the winter season? There’s no need to keep your event contained to four walls when you have the option of keeping warm with a School-A-Thon run! Traditional events like our Color-A-Thon runs are a great option for holiday fundraisers, but we have some fun holiday ideas that can spice up your fundraising while keeping you and your fellow fundraisers active in the great outdoors.

Promote Jolly Joggers

Grab your favorite reindeer and put on your Santa hat for a fun filled Christmas run. You can entice people to dress up in their best Christmas costumes by giving out prizes for best Santa, Elf, Reindeer etc. Don’t forget to put out snacks at the finish line for all the festive participants. Have a table that has milk and cookies for the Santa’s along with some healthy carrots for the reindeer.

Image by Michael Dorausch via Flickr

Break out the Beards...

Another fun idea that are along the same lines is to provide your runners with Santa hats and beards and have them dress the part. Not only will your runners be festive, but it will draw attention to your cause to see a pack of Santa’s running down the streets of the run.

Image by DebMomOf3 via Flickr

...And the Ugly Sweaters

Why not put a twist on a classic holiday party with an ugly Christmas sweater themed run? Encourage participants to get creative with their sweaters and have the ultimate ugly sweater ready to give away as a prize.

Candy All the Way

Show your Christmas cheer with a candy cane run. Line the race trail with candy canes and holiday decorations instead of cones and have a couple ready to give away to participants. You could also have a gingerbread making station and hot chocolate to get supporters involved.

The Reason for the Season

The Holiday season is a great time to give back to those in need. You could set up a toy drive or food drive at the race where people can bring a toy for kids or canned food for those families who can not afford meals.

There are plenty of ideas to keep your fundraising fun this holiday season, it’s up to you to choose! Visit Schoolathon.org for more ideas on taking your “THON” from bland to grand this holiday season and all winter long!