After three weeks of leisure, many students undoubtedly are not too excited to jump straight into an overwhelming routine in which play is only followed by a rigorous amount of work.

Celebrating the holidays is not necessarily accompanied by a disciplined workout regime and a balanced diet. So, you may ask, how do you recover after nearly a month when the only exercise your body got was from your couch to the kitchen and your staple diet consisted merely of pie?

It is not easy, but it can be done.

Fortunately, students have an opportunity to get back into their “zone” easily with the help of the wellness programs provided by the University.

The ARC offers a free week of group fitness classes this week until Jan. 20. Fitness classes are a fun and motivating way to work out. If you feel brave, you can buy a pass for the entire semester and keep the exercise momentum going.

They say laughter is the best medicine, so if your resolution this year is to be happier, you could start at The Second City Illinites this Friday at 9 p.m. in the Union.

If you’re aiming to add fitness to your life this year, easing into your workout is very important because too high expectations can intimidate you and lead to failure. Make a schedule and decide on a fixed time to work out at least three to four times a week. Studies have shown that if you prearrange your workout time, you are more likely to stick to your regime.

If your alcohol intake was too high during the holidays, lay off for a while. The empty calories in alcohol will do you no good. If you’re going out with friends, opt for red wine or a vodka soda to save calories and limit yourself to just a few.

If your goal is to eat healthy this year, don’t adopt a diet that consists of drinks made of cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon juice. A balanced diet consists of five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. These foods are rich in vitamins and they will boost your fiber and antioxidant intake, keeping you full and healthy.

The ARC Instructional Kitchen provides cooking classes for $7 to help make healthy eating taste great. Classes on Jan. 25 and Jan. 30 are specific to those fulfilling resolutions and aiming for a healthy year.

Another way to recover from the holidays is to walk to your classes. This will teach you how to rely on yourself instead of solely on MTD. It will give you the confidence to enter a healthier lifestyle while burning calories on the way.

Regretting your careless habits during the holidays is the last thing you want to do. Negativity should be avoided at all costs when you are trying to bounce back. You have the time to find and embrace your old routine, or even better, design a new routine for a happier and more efficient life.

With a schedule that includes physical exersion and a positive mindset, classes won’t seem as bad either. A prearranged workout time and a healthy diet will show you that you have enough time in your day to maintain a social life as well.

So don’t dwell on the health blunders of the past three weeks. Instead be proactive in making sure you bounce back for a healthy and happy semester.

Tanya is a sophomore in LAS and can be reached at [email protected].