5 Top tips for Christmas Shoppers
As we enter into the depths of the festive shopping season, here are our top tips to make the experience that little more bearable and most importantly, good for your body.
Tip 1
Wear SENSIBLE footwear for shopping trips. – Would you ever consider going to the gym in your heeled boots or flat bottom slip on shoes? Didn’t think so. Hardcore shoppers can cover around 20 miles to complete their Christmas shopping and the weight of those bags can soon add up until you find yourself carrying and extra 10kg without even realising it. Great way for earning extra calories to spend on those tubs of celebrations, but if you want to stay pain free, wear something that is flexible, has a good arch support and doesn’t slip off easily so your toes don’t have to cling on for dear life when your dancing your way through the crowds.
Tip 2
Be aware of how you are standing in the queues. Try and put heavy bags down where you can and ALWAYS make sure you are standing with your weight evenly distributed through both of your feet. If you find one hip comfortably dropped out to the side with 5 or 6 bags attached to one arm, then you will find your lower back in more pain than your wallet when you get home that night.
Tip 3
Online shoppers the sofa is your worst enemy!! It will suck you in and eat you alive, crushing the vertebral disks in both your neck and lower back when you find yourself in those deadly comfortable sofa slumps. Not to say you can’t spend lazy Saturday mornings clicking your way to Christmas perfection, but you would be much better off sitting at a table or even the floor against the sofa with an upright posture. Try to avoid looking down at all costs, the screen should meet your eye line without having to tilt your head forwards and make sure you find the zoom button for reading the small print rather than poking your chin forward to get a closer look!
Tip 4
If it really gets stressful and you find yourself needing to lie down with no time to stop the online shop, or you are simply panic buying in bed late at night, your best option is to lie flat on your back with both knees bent up and a cushion under your head to maintain a neutral spine. If you place one foot up on top of the other knee you can find yourself in a nice glute stretch at the same time. Just remember to swap sides.
Tip 5
For those of you admiring your own multitasking skills as you physically walking around the shops whilst simultaneously doing some online shopping on your phone. Or you're constantly texting you mates pictures of your top purchases this year and sending Snapchats with Santa, your neck and shoulders will thank you later if you wait until you can sit down and use your phone with good posture instead. Also a great opportunity to take a break and reward your efforts over a gingerbread latte.
Finally, for good festive measure, here's Mariah Carey with a very important message...