The holiday season can be a whirlwind of gatherings, delicious food and packed schedules, making it easy to sideline your fitness goals. But with a little planning and a few smart strategies, you can keep moving without missing out on the holiday spirit. Here are some holiday exercise tips to help you maintain your routine through the celebrations.
Set a Realistic Workout Schedule for the Holidays
The secret to maintaining consistency is creating a realistic holiday workout schedule. Don’t set yourself up for burnout by aiming for time-consuming exercises every day. Instead, try shorter, moderate sessions that fit into your busy days.
Quick, high-intensity sessions like HIIT or simple bodyweight circuits can be just as effective when time is tight. You’re more likely to stay consistent with working out when you commit to shorter sessions, especially when your schedule is packed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend getting 150 minutes of moderate movement or 75 minutes of vigorous activity weekly, so choose a few time slots each week where you can fit some in. This way, you’re not sacrificing too much time but are still staying active.
Plan Fun, Festive Workouts
Staying active doesn’t have to mean skipping out on fun. Use the holiday spirit to add variety to your workouts. You could take a walk to look at holiday lights, join family members for a post-dinner stroll or do a dance workout to your favorite seasonal songs. Making fitness part of your celebrations is one of the most enjoyable holiday exercise tips you can use.
Allow Room for Flexibility
During the festive season, flexibility is essential, as plans pop up all the time. Travel plans, family gatherings and last-minute events can throw you off track. Instead of feeling like you need to stick to a rigid schedule, try to stay active in whatever way fits into your day.
You might not make it to the gym, but a brisk walk, a few minutes of stretching or even a quick online workout can still help you stay on track. The trick to staying consistent with working out is to have a backup plan. Keep a few quick workouts saved in a YouTube playlist or written down in a notebook for days when time or space is limited.
Set Small, Achievable Goals
The holidays aren’t the best time for ambitious new fitness goals, so keep things manageable. Instead of aiming for full sessions, you may ned to set smaller daily goals.
You could aim for a daily step count or commit to just 10 minutes of movement. Small goals make it much easier to stay consistent with working out. Even a little bit of activity each day adds up, helping you maintain progress and feel better throughout the season.
Make it a Group Effort
Adding social time to your sessions can keep you accountable and make exercise feel less like a task. Invite family members to join you for a walk, play a game of football, explore a new trail or try a group fitness class.
Having loved ones around can make it more enjoyable and is an easy way to stay disciplined without missing out on holiday fun. If you have a romantic partner, getting them to join you for a workout can increase relationship satisfaction and boost your consistency in the gym.
Celebrate Your Wins
Staying active during the holidays can be tricky, so acknowledge each step you take. Every time you fit in a workout — no matter how small — you’re doing something positive for yourself. By focusing on what you can do rather than stressing about what you might miss, you’ll be much more motivated to stay active.
Reach Your Fitness Goals With These Holiday Exercise Tips
Staying consistent with working out during the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated. If you need extra guidance, take it a step further with personalized support. Book a personal training session with Chris Protein and work with experts who can help you create a holiday-proof workout plan.
