Now that the busy holiday season is here it can be harder to find time for workouts. However, exercise can be a great way to de-stress during this time of year, so it’s important to make some time for it! There are some ways to fit in your workouts, even when it feels like life is getting super busy. Just remember, a few missed workouts won’t derail your entire season, so try to be flexible! Here are 5 ways to sneak in workouts during the busy holiday season.
5 Ways to Sneak in Workouts During the Busy Holiday Season
1. Get your workout done early
I know that if I can wake up and get my workout done before the day begins, I will feel a million times better. Even when I am traveling I just wake up before everyone else and head out for a run or go to the hotel gym. It also feels good to stay on a consistent schedule!
2. Break up your workout
Maybe you don’t have a full 30 minutes to get in a workout, but you can do 10 minutes here and there. Things like going for a walk, a few minutes of planking, and some squats while you’re doing your holiday baking can really add up.
3. Workout with others during the busy holiday season
If you are spending the holidays with friends and/or family, try to get them to work out with you. Maybe even consider signing up for a holiday race!
4. Get creative with fitting in your workouts
There are other ways to get in some exercises beside the traditional cardio/strength training workouts. Maybe you will get in a few thousands steps from walking around the mall doing Christmas shopping. I find that I can get in a pretty good workout if I clean the whole house, or just walking up and down the stairs getting Christmas gifts organized.
5. Give yourself a break during the busy holiday season!
While it’s great to stay on track with workouts during the holidays, it’s also important to enjoy the season and not stress too much about it. Take a few extra rest days and know that things will settle down in a few weeks.
You may also like:
Runners’ Gift Ideas for the 2022 Holiday Season
How to Maintain and Enjoy Your Workout Routine During the Holidays
Five Ways To Stay Healthy During The Holidays
How do you keep up with workouts during the holidays?
What is your favorite “non-traditional” way to exercise?
Now it’s time for the Runners’ Roundup! Link up your running and fitness posts below! Join myself, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner and Runs with Pugs to post your favorite running tips, experiences, race and training recaps, workouts, gear, and coaching ideas.
I have that same wine glass and I always tend to fill it past the 5k mark even when I haven’t ran that distance that day…haha. If I can’t get a run in, I at least always take my dog around the neighborhood. She never says no for a walk.
That’s a great way to get in some exercise! And no judgement on the wine, I do the same thing!
I always do my best to squeeze in a run, even if it isn’t as far as I’d like!
A short run is always better than no run!
I’d still respond the same as I did above! I tend to let the important things go, though, and I’m usually dashing around trying to get it all done.
I always do my best to squeeze in a run, even if it isn’t as far as I’d like!
Breaking it up into 2 shorter workouts is a great idea!
Sometimes it’s just more manageable that way!
Great tips – I’m all about the shorter workouts and more walking this season! Have a good weekend!
It’s hard to stay outside as long now that it’s colder out!
Getting it done early is key for me. If I have to, I’ll run shorter but add intensity.
A short, intense workout can be just as effective (or more) as a long workout!
I haven’t done much since my race last month, but I am enjoying the rest days. I’ve started strength training again, and am slowly getting back into that schedule. This weekend will be busy since I’ll be shopping at a craft fair, and then the mall, plus my chocolate class. I’ll be on my feet a lot.
There are so many other ways to get in some exercise this time of year other than running!
When things get busy I have to remind myself that no matter what, 30 minutes before my scheduled run time I will feel like there’s no time to run. when I recognize that as part of my daily routine it’s easier to ignore it. 🙂
Thats a great strategy! We have to plan ahead for trying to talk ourselves out of a workout sometimes:)
Not skipping activity just because it is only a few minutes is a really good point! Those short session s add up! I am trying to work on that very thing 🙂
It can be so tempting to skip a workout all together when time is limited, but it’s better to at least try to get in a short workout!
My early morning cadrio routine has been a game changer for me. My body naturally wakes up before 5:00 most mornings anyways, so I just head out for a quick walk (or run) and am back home in 30-45 minutes. The other day, I did a short walk, and came back inside and ran on my stairway for a while (where it was much warmer LOL).
Early morning is really the best way to do it! It’s amazing what you can fit in when you wake up before 5am:)
That glass of wine looks heavenly…
I’m a big proponent of getting a workout done early AND with friends! It makes it easier and so much more fun. 🙂
And getting a workout done in the morning means more time for wine in the evening! It’s a win-win!
I’ve been having to get up SO EARLY to fit my workouts in some days. I’m glad I’ve made it happen, though; exercise is a huge part of how i manage stress. And for me, at least, the holidays are STRESSFUL!!
That’s awesome! It can be hard to get into that routine but I think usually once it become a habit it can be a bit easier. Exercise is such a great way to manage stress this time of year!
Getting a run done early is essential for me – that way, I don’t have to worry about what I eat or the timing of the run as much. I also just give myself more of a break during the holidays, which is especially nice after a December marathon.
That’s such a good point that food is not as much of an issue when you run in the morning. Plus it’s nice to have it out of the way before the day even begins!
I just stick with my normal schedule- which isn’t hard to do because I always run at the butt crack of dawn! So I just get it done before the day starts- whatever the day brings.
That’s pretty much what I do too! It’s nice to be in the routine of running before other people are even awake yet.
Hello, Lisa.
With the holiday coming up, I can really say that finding time for a workout would be such a challenge because there’s a lot of chores to be done before Christmas. These are really great tips for someone like me!
These are great tips, especially during this time of the year! Breaking up workouts is a great way to get in a good sweat when you have limited time!
Getting up early and getting a workout in before the day starts is a great tip. Whatever happens later in the day – your workout is done and nobody can take that away from you.
Exactly! It’s the best time of day to get it done.
Great tips. Love the last one. Lol.
But yes you get it done when you can.
Yes, exactly!