5 Ways to Get More Exercise During the Holidays

Are the holidays causing you to skip your workouts? Get back on track to reaching your fitness goals with these 5 simple tips to help you get more exercise!

When the holidays arrive, it is not uncommon to get into an unfortunate slump where you eat a lot of sweets, take time off work or school, and just want to lay around and watch holiday movies all day! While this can be okay every once in a while, you should still be getting plenty of exercise this month – especially if you want to avoid those dreaded extra holiday pounds.

The following simple tips for getting more exercise will help you get out of that slump and get back on track with your exercise plan.

1. Go For a Walk

There are few things that are more motivating than going for a nice walk outdoors. You don’t have to look at it as strenuous exercise, but just a light stroll. Even if you walk slowly and not for a long time, getting up and moving your body is good for your health, helps to release some of your holiday stress, and may provide the motivation you need to start a fitness routine even before the holidays are over!

2. Partner Up

Some people have a lot of trouble motivating themselves to get out of a holiday slump, and need someone else to force them to get up. A workout partner can be a great motivator. They will help keep you accountable, and you can do the same for them. Choose someone who enjoys exercising or needs just as much of a push as you – that way you can get more exercise together and push each other as much as needed.

3. Make the Exercise Part of Your Holiday Celebration

Sometimes, you can slip a workout right into your holiday festivities. There are a few ways to do this. One simple way is by heading to the mall to do most of your holiday shopping. This requires you to do a lot of walking instead of driving from store to store, and gives you a reason to walk up and down the stairs, instead of taking an elevator. It’s a great way to get exercise while also getting your holiday shopping done!

4. Walk to Get Your Treats

If there is a day during the holiday season when you really want a Grande Iced Mocha from Starbucks or want to hit up Sees Candies for some chocolate, don’t drive there. Instead, promise yourself that if you are going to have an extra treat, you have to exercise while you do it. Either walk to the coffee shop or store with the treats, or ride your bicycle, etc..

5. Work Out at Home

You may be someone who is just never going to make it to the gym, and that’s okay! Being a gym rat isn’t for everyone, and if you force something you aren’t interested in, you probably won’t stick with it. Try to think of workouts that are easier or that you are more inclined to do, such as getting a treadmill and walking on it while watching a holiday movie or walking with your family in the evenings. Look for ways to get more exercise that you will actually enjoy.

We share a quick workout video on this blog every Wednesday, with great ways to get fit at home without spending a lot of time on it. This month, we are sharing some super-fast and effective workouts just for the holidays, so you can fit them into your busy holiday schedule! Just click the “Healthy Exercise” category in the sidebar to find a great list of quick home workout videos.