How to Work Exercise into the Holiday Season

Brian Acton

The holidays are often associated with relaxed inhibitions and a little bit of excess. Extra helpings at dinner, desserts at the office holiday party, and extra cocktails on New Year’s Eve aren’t considered unusual at all.

But it’s a good idea to continue to prioritize healthy choices as well, from eating a balanced diet to getting enough sleep every night. One important thing to prioritize is consistent exercise, which can help you achieve or maintain a healthy weight, prevent certain health conditions, and boost your mood. Plus, consistent exercise can help you avoid too much guilt about overindulging a little bit.

Finding the time for exercise during the holidays can be a challenge. You may already be shopping for gifts, decorating the house, traveling, and engaging in other activities that leave you with little time for a workout. Here’s how to work exercise into the holiday season.

1. Schedule Time to Exercise

The holiday season can be filled with tasks on top of your regular responsibilities, like planning a holiday party and wrapping things up at work before people are out of the office. Pulling yourself away from your other obligations to exercise may feel difficult.

Setting aside time on your calendar to exercise might be the solution you need. Think about when you are most likely to successfully work out - early in the morning before work, during your lunch break, after you drop the kids off at school, etc. - and put that time on your calendar so you don’t schedule any conflicts.

2. Squeeze in Activity Whenever You Can

Still finding it tough to make it to the gym or go for a run? Something is better than nothing, so start squeezing in activity whenever you can. Here are some tips for squeezing exercise into a busy day:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work.
• Park farther away from your destination to get in some extra steps when you go out.
• Exercise while you watch TV using a stationary bike, treadmill, or just bodyweight exercises.
• Stand up from your work desk on a regular basis to break up your sedentary time.

These little hacks may not replace an hour-long session at the gym, but they will add up throughout the day when you’re consistently looking for exercise opportunities.

3. Do Some Seasonal Activities

Seasonal holiday activities are a great way to break a sweat while having some fun. Winter sports like sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating are all fantastic ways to get in a great workout.

If intense exercise isn’t really your thing, you still have some opportunity for seasonal workouts. You can go caroling around the neighborhood, help put up decorations, or even shovel snow off your driveway (safely and with back support if you need it).

For more, check out this list of our ten favorite outdoor winter activities.

4. Bring a Friend

Staying motivated to exercise can be tough when it’s colder outside and you just want to hibernate indoors. Skipping a workout is easier to do when it’s just you, so you can schedule some activities with friends or family for some extra accountability. You can go with a friend to a fitness class, go for a walk with a neighbor, hit the ski slopes with your family, or just walk around a museum. The key is involving others in your plans so it feels like less of a chore and more of a social engagement.