How to stick to your exercise routine during the holiday season.

The holiday season is one of the most challenging times to stay motivated to be healthy and keep fit. Holidays have a high tendency to cause quite a bit of disruption to our everyday exercise routines and staying motivated to get into the gym can be a little more difficult.

So why is it so difficult to stay motivated on vacation? 

Well, during the holiday season it is much easier to find excuses, the food is tastier, and it is a hectic time of year. Between work, family, planning, and parties finding time for a gym session can be next to impossible. With the wintry weather and delicious food, many of us are tempted to spend our free time lying by the fire on a full stomach and chilling out with loved ones instead of going to the gym for a sweat session. The problem is that even if we enjoyed it at that time, we would soon regret it when the holidays are over.

Below are nine tips to help you stick to your workout routine during holidays

1. Plan Ahead

During busy vacation weeks (especially those that involve travel), look ahead and plan when and where you can get some exercise. Find out where you will work out, if it would be at a relative’s home, outdoors or in a hotel gym. That way, you can prepare yourself for what workout gear may or may not be available to you (and what equipment you may need to pack) and start the week with realistic expectations and the comfort of having a plan.

2. Schedule plans for your workouts

Studies have shown that planning your workouts increases the probability of completing them. To ensure that you workout, mark it in your phonebook or calendar, alongside business meetings and family gatherings.

3.Get up and get to work

Whether you have an office party or just a million errands to run after work, there are plenty of holiday events and things to do that threaten to derail your afternoon or evening workouts. Stretching your body in the morning ensures exercise is ticked off your list before more demands of this busy season get in the way. It also helps set the tone for a productive, stress-free day.

4. Pre-Game (With a Sweat Session)

Before you start getting ready for that bad sweater party or family dinner, set aside 15 minutes for a quick high-intensity interval training (HIIT), you can do anywhere to get your heart rate and energy up. Pick five movements such as jump squats, jack squats, mountain climbers, and pushups and go through three rounds of them, working for 45 seconds and resting for 15 seconds. In addition to going to your festivities with that post-workout effect, you’ll also reap the benefits of a fast metabolism. Due to the high-intensity nature of HIIT, your body continues to work hard to recover for hours after you finish your workout.

5. Travel with your training equipment

When you’re about to hit the road during the holiday season, take some simple training tools with you so you can get a little exercise wherever your trip takes you. Try to travel as much as possible with two long resistance bands and three small ring bands of different resistances. With just these bands, you can do a full-body workout, even in a small hotel room. 

6. Try a training app

Not sure what exercises to do when you’re in your grandmother’s basement or have more time than usual at the gym?  Don’t let uncertainty get in your way. There are a whole lot of great exercise apps and training programs online that can give you an expert workout program at the tip of your finger. Many platforms offer plenty of equipment-free workouts, too, so you can squeeze in good training anytime, anywhere, without having to overthink. Of course, I recommend the Flesh Tamers Fitness app.

7. Keep it fast

On days when a 45- or 60-minute workout could seem impossible, do a short-time exercise where you can sweat quickly for 15-20 minutes. There are a whole lot of benefits you can reap from a focused 20-minute workout. Plus, it’ll keep you consistent so you can get back to your usual routine when the holiday is over.

8. Make moving(walking) a habit

Time spent with family on vacation often involves a lot of food and treats, and perhaps less exercise than usual. Get the whole family to do some training (formal or informal). If you don’t have a kid (or dog) to take for a walk, you can get the whole family moving by signing up for a charity walk or turkey trot or reindeer Trot.

9. Make a Playlist to Get Yourself into the Workout Mind-Set

If your scheduled workout time is making you weary, put on one of your favorite songs to help you shift gears and motivate you to exercise. Once your energy and motivation increase, get to it.