In winter we often stay trapped inside our homes where it’s warm, but if you bundle up you can enjoy a lot of fun activities outside. Put on your wool socks and warm winter boots and walk the snow-covered rails to trails in Vernon, have a snow ball fight, go sledding, try cross country skiing. There are so many activities that can be enjoyed in the winter months that make the cold a little more bearable. Plus, getting some fresh air is a great way to revitalize the spirit.

It is supposed to be cold the next few days so make sure you dress for the weather!

This time of year is hectic and while we tend to be eating more, we also tend to exercise less in the last few weeks of the year. “We’ll make up for it in the New Year,” we say, but why should be set ourselves back?

Right now, pull out your calendar or whatever new contraption you use to make plans and schedule fifteen minutes of Pilates exercises every day this week. If you already do 15 minutes of Pilates a day, try and add fifteen this week.

Wake up in the morning and do the ab series to get you motivated for your day or at the end of the day just do 15 minutes of Pilates stretches to calm you down. Exercise is more than just a way to lose weight and increase muscles mass. It can also relax you and energize you–two traits that are extremely important during a stressful holiday season.

As we get more and more stuffed this holiday season, we may stop engaging our core muscles. It’s a shame because not only will engaging the core give you better posture and help support your spine, but keeping that core engaged may actually help you from over eating. When we stuff ourselves, it’s harder for those muscles to pull toward the spine.

Remember, Pilates is supposed to train you for life. What you learn in class is intended to be carried over into daily tasks. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we can all forget to take care of ourselves a little bit.

So remember all the places you can engage your core muscles (at red lights, standing in line, at the bank, at the fax machine, in the shower, while writing Christmas cards, when sending emails, etc.). Come up with a new place you would like to engage your core in 2009.

Try to do something nice for someone else today. Doing good to others makes us feel good, and feeling good makes us treat ourselves and everyone else better. It’s a win win.

Try holding a door open for someone or saying hello to someone at the office that you don’t usually make time for. Ask someone about their family or what they are doing this holiday season. Call someone who you know could use a little pick-me-up this time of year. Send a card to someone you love just to tell them you love them.

Today find a way to make someone else happy and happiness is likely to find it’s way to you.

It’s pretty easy to do, and if we’re healthy we all know we should do it, so this year really try and practice it. When you have to go shopping this season–whether the errand be for groceries or presents–make sure you park in the furthest parking spot from where you plan to shop. And if you’re going to an outdoor mall. Don’t move the car from store to store. Walk.

To distract yourself from the cold, focus on pulling your belly button to your spine or maintaining good posture.

Chances are this will actually save you time because you won’t waste time driving around for the perfect spot. If you are healthy and can walk, there is always someone who needs a closer spot more than you do. Remember that in addition to all the spending we do this time of year, we are also supposed to be generous, take stock in our lives, and consider how we can make the world a better place. Even little things matter when it comes to making someone else’s day.