Thanksgiving break is coming up, and it is a perfect opportunity to get some much needed rest after a busy month. Most students look forward to spending time with their loved ones and eating lots of food on Thanksgiving. Although you may be out of your regular routine that you have with school, taking care of yourself is still important during this break, especially staying active so you can practice self care both physically and mentally.
One way to stay in shape over break is to take walks. Walking is a form of exercise that isn’t too exhausting but is a great way to get your steps in. Santa Barbara has many places for walking, some that you may not even know about. The Mesa has nice spots to walk at such as Mesa Park, Shoreline Park, and the Douglas Preserve. All of these places have gorgeous ocean views that are sure to make your walk worth it. You can also go to the Santa Barbara Mission and walk towards the Riviera or downtown, and then come back and soak up the sun on the grass. Or, you can walk on one of Santa Barbara’s many beaches. Some of the best for walking include: East Beach, Haskell’s Beach, and Butterfly Beach.
Another way to be active over break is to work out. Whether you go to the gym or stay at home, working out helps your mental health a lot. According to Harvard Medical School’s publishing website, exercising is a way to release endorphins. Endorphins are considered as natural painkillers for the body. They are peptide hormones that relieve pain and stress when you do certain things such as exercising, laughing, mediating, listening to music, etc. When your body releases endorphins, your mind is calmer and your brain is happier. Even just five minutes of cardio or ab work can make a huge difference. Listening to music while you work out can also make it a lot more enjoyable!
Santa Barbara has a stunning coastline, but people may forget about the mountains that can be seen from everywhere around town. There are various hiking trails in the Santa Barbara mountain range that offer incredible views of the entire town, and these trails are perfect for hiking with your family to celebrate Thanksgiving. Hiking is another form of exercise that is a little more strenuous than walking, but your mind will feel so much more at peace after. You’re able to get active and enjoy nature at the same time. Some popular trails include Rattlesnake trial, Tangerine Falls trail, and Hot Springs trail. Most of these trails aren’t very challenging and they won’t take up your whole day. Even if you are not a big nature fan, after hiking in the beautiful mountains that we are so lucky to have here in Santa Barbara, you will be sure to rethink.
“I enjoy taking walks and hikes because they help me feel better if I’m ever having mental health issues and it also just gets me outside and helps me feel more present and in the moment. It is also nice to explore and look at beautiful scenery around me and appreciate it in ways I wouldn’t if I was just driving somewhere,” said San Marcos junior Vivian Smith.
Overall, staying in shape during Thanksgiving break is always a good idea, even if you just do something simple like a walk around your neighborhood, or a few easy workouts in your room. It may not seem like it, but you can always find a way to make exercising fun. You can also bond with family members by doing something active with them. Thanksgiving break is a time to relax and enjoy yourself, but also a time to enjoy all of the opportunities to get active that Santa Barbara has to offer.
