How to Make Time to Exercise During the Holidays

Consistency is the most important part of reaching your fitness goals. Even though life happens and we have more responsibilities than we would like, taking a little bit of time to plan ahead will help make your exercise routine possible even during the holiday season.

Here are some ways you can be sure to stay on track:

1. Planning your workouts ahead of time. If you are going to a gym or studio, sign up or schedule your sessions ahead of time so it is already in your calendar for the week. If you have family staying at your house, getting in a few early morning sessions will help you feel accomplished and energized for the rest of the day, plus you might even get home before everyone else is awake so you can have some well-deserved “me time”.
2. Group workouts! If you have family staying with you, they might want to join you. It doesn’t have to be structured, but getting the whole family moving is a great bonding experience and you have an opportunity to be a great influence on your loved ones. You could Youtube an exercise routine, play some tag or touch football in the yard, or even just go for a walk.
3. Plan meals! This is a great idea not only for the holidays, but all the time. Taking an hour or two on a Sunday afternoon to cook meals and healthy snacks for the week will help keep you and your family on track with your goals. If you already know what you are going to eat, you won’t have to stop and purchase convenience foods during a time crunch. This can be a fun family event, too, giving everyone a little bit of input on what they want to eat during the week and they can pitch in on prep work, as well.
4. Be efficient! Remember that when it comes to fitness, you don’t necessarily need to take a full hour out of your day to get a workout in. In fact, during the holidays, taking an hour out of your day might be nearly impossible. You can have a great workout in less than 20 minutes with nothing but bodyweight. 20 bodyweight squats, 10 push-ups, 20 mountain climbers, 60 second plank 3 times through might take you 10-15 minutes and will get your heart pumping!
5. Don’t do more, change what you’re already doing. During the holidays, free time runs at a premium. Try thinking of simple things that will add up in the long run. Park further away, take the stairs, stand instead of sit, or grab a bag of carrots instead of a bag of chips. There are so many choices presented to us daily, make it a habit to choose the healthier ones!