Christmas and New Year press releases

experts in sport graphic

Experts in Sport podcast: How to stay motivated on your new year fitness journey

With the festive season now a distant memory, many of us have swapped turkey and mince pies for kettlebells and treadmills as we attempt to live healthier in 2023.

Going home for the holidays? How to navigate conflict and deal with difficult people

The holiday season is upon us and for many that means all the tension that comes with it. This time of year can be a minefield of uncomfortable moments, disagreement and outright conflict. It’s no wonder many young people are apprehensive about returning home for the holidays after living far away.
Sara Read

How different were things in ye olde Christmas?

Nowadays, there are many unforgettable traditions surrounding the holidays – decorating the Christmas tree, exchanging presents, watching Christmas movies with loved ones, and more. But just how much has changed from Ye olde Christmas, and how did we get here?

Activity “Advent calendar” could help boost activity and cut sitting time

A Christmas themed physical activity intervention during Advent shows promise for increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time among inactive adults, finds a trial by Loughborough University.
Christmas garland with COVID 19 mask on it and a Christmas tree saying 'quarentine'

Dreading seeing COVID conspiracy-spreading relatives this Christmas? Here’s why you may have ignored their misinformation in the family group chat all year

Christmas is just around the corner and though it’s time to enjoy the family coming together, you may be dreading seeing that one relative that can’t help but bring up COVID-19 conspiracy theories.
a person warming up pre exercise

Three tips to help you stay motivated to keep exercising all year long

February. The month of shattered dreams and ambitions. The trainers are gathering dust and chocolate bars have replaced protein bars. The gusto with which we attacked our new year resolutions is a vague memory.

Ye olde Christmas: What we can learn about celebrating Yuletide from the 1600s

Christmas might feel like it’s cancelled because of coronavirus but spare a thought for families who lived around 400 years ago – when Parliament literally outlawed the festive holidays.

Parents! How to prepare a perfectly nutritious primary school packed lunch for your kids this New Year

Surprise your kids when they go back to school this January by swapping their lunch time cola, chocolate and crisps for healthy, nutritious alternatives.

Books for Christmas – from ancient Rome to Iceland’s jólabókaflóð

Christmas is coming, and gifting is at the forefront of many minds.

No-frills fitness routines to support any New Year health plan

Here are two back-to-basics workouts which anybody can try as part of their healthy New Year lifestyle.

Set goals and succeed like an Olympian: How to inject staying power into your New Year pledges

Goal-setting makes Olympic champions, according to Loughborough University sport and performance psychologist Dr David Fletcher.

Simple ways to improve your child’s diet this New Year

Knowing what to feed your child to keep them healthy is only half the battle.

Ye olde remedies for modern Christmasse ailments… or how 17th century medicine can help after a Christmas binge

A 17th century ailment for indigestion featuring the contents of a sperm whale’s guts could be just the cure for your Christmas Day food coma.

‘Tis the season to be fussy… how to encourage your children to eat their sprouts

Evolutionary biology gives children a wonderful gift at Christmas… a proven scientific excuse for disliking sprouts.

More than 1 million children are at risk of ‘holiday hunger’ this Christmas

One million disadvantaged children are at risk of malnutrition, ill-health and hunger this Christmas due to a two-week hiatus from the vital nutrition of free school meals.

Loneliness in the digital age: How storytelling could be key this Christmas

Our online social lives have the power to bring us closer together but also to push us further apart, writes Professor Mike Wilson.
photo of Christmas pudding on a table with holly on top

Is the traditional Christmas pudding on its way out?

One of the UK’s best-loved and longest-serving Christmas dinner delights is being replaced by a plethora of alternatives, according to analysis from Loughborough economist Dr Jon Seaton.

Christmas dinners: Why less affluent shoppers pay more whilst the wealthy pay less

The cost of a Christmas dinner has dropped by about £12.25 for wealthier shoppers over the last seven years while less affluent consumers are paying an average of £5.33 more, new analysis has found.
photo of Dr Sara Read, Dr Oli Tearle and Dr Barbara Cooke getting into the festive spirit

Loughborough academics discuss festive poetry in podcast

A group of academics from the School of Arts, English and Drama have recorded a special Christmas episode for the School of Poetry podcast.

Recipe: Create your own mince pie the 17th century way… with meat (VIDEO)

Loughborough literary historian Dr Sara Read, and colleague Dr Jennifer Evans, have unearthed a 350-year-old recipe for a true festive favourite – the mince pie. The duo cooked up the seasonal dish, with a slight difference, in the historically appropriate surroundings of Donington le Heath Manor House, in Leicestershire. Here is how they did it…
Pictured is man wrapping socks for Christmas.

Let’s tackle fashion waste and be more clothing conscious this Christmas

It’s less than 20 days until Christmas and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to panic buy because once again gift shopping has been left until the last minute.

Why talking about memories with older family, friends and neighbours this holiday season could be essential for their wellbeing

This December, more than one million elderly people will experience loneliness and isolation according to figures by Age UK. As part of our Christmas campaign aimed at raising awareness of seasonal loneliness, Loughborough academic Dr Catherine Armstrong has suggested one solution from the tiny island of Hawaii that could make a big difference to someone.

Loughborough University launches 2018 festive campaign to raise awareness of loneliness at Christmas

Today, Loughborough University is launching its seasonal health and wellbeing campaign aimed at boosting your happiness during the following festive weeks.
Turkish coins

More Turkey and Toyota next Christmas?

This time next year, if Brexit goes ahead, either by March in May’s heavily criticised negotiated deal or sudden death hard Brexit, then the UK will be a very different place.

Get your sleep sorted before you tackle diet and exercise – tips for a nodding off

Your diet and exercise could be negatively affected if you don’t look after your sleep.