As soon as the holiday season hits, our already busy schedules seemingly get that much busier. But, there are only so many hours in a day — somethings gotta give. When deciding what to eliminate from our schedule, the first thing to take a hit (even when it’s the one thing we need the most) is oftentimes our workout routine. We know working out is good for our mental, physical, and emotional health. And we really want to fit movement into our day! But we just don’t have the time, energy, or motivation — at least, that’s how the majority of Americans feel. The thing is, sticking to your workout routine during the holiday season doesn’t need to be another source of added stress. In fact, squeezing in movement — even on the busiest of days — can help eliminate tension and anxiety, improve your mental health, and encourage healthier holiday habits. So how do you find more time for movement despite a hectic holiday schedule? Find ways to make it work for you and your schedule. And don’t worry; we’re here to help.
Ahead, simple movement tips, quick (but oh-so-effective) workouts, and workouts for the holiday season that don’t feel like workouts. With these easy-to-implement hacks, burn calories, bust stress, and become your healthiest self this holiday season!
Easy Ways to Fit Movement Into Your Holiday Schedule
Plan & Prepare
If you want to prioritize holiday movement, you need to make time, not find time! Schedule it into your calendar like you would a meeting, event, appointment, or any important commitment. And it doesn’t have to be a studio workout class or group event — do this even if you plan on working out alone in your living room. Blocking out time will help you stick to your goals, even if your time frame is limited. Once you make a plan, stick to it!
Workout First Thing in the Morning
Expect the unexpected. Because let’s be real, things never really go as planned! Whether it’s getting stuck in holiday traffic, sleeping through your alarm, staying late at work, or simply losing track of time, something always seems to come up — especially during the holiday season. Anticipate this will happen, and schedule your workout first thing in the morning! If you wake up and go, you’re guaranteed to squeeze in a daily dose of movement — even if it’s a walk around the block or a 15-minute HIIT sesh.
RELATED: Not a Morning Person? 10 Tips To Make Morning Workouts Stick
Dress for the Day With Movement In Mind
If you’re holiday shopping or running last-minute errands, lace up your sneakers and hit the town in a cute workout outfit. For starters, if you’ve ever shopped ‘til you dropped, you know holiday shopping can be a workout in itself. You’ll provide support for your feet while walking and feel more comfortable. Plus, you’ll save time changing and increase your chances of squeezing in a workout! If you’re already dressed and ready to go, you reduce the barriers to working out. Hey, maybe you even gift yourself a workout outfit as motivation to move. You deserve it.
Come Prepared with Workout Essentials
Another way to prepare for the day? Travel with your workout essentials. Whether it’s your work bag, gym bag, or travel bag, pack the wellness essentials like resistance bands, sliders, and a lightweight yoga mat. Not only will you be more motivated to move during a busy day or while traveling, but you’ll also have the tools to make it happen! And don’t worry if you don’t have access to a gym or fitness studio. With the FitOn app and a few pieces of equipment, you can work out virtually anywhere — in a hotel room, at a park, even at an airport!
Join a FitOn Challenge
Join a FitOn challenge or create your own challenge on the app with your favorite FitOn workouts! Invite your friends or coworkers for some friendly competition. It’s a fun way to stay motivated, consistent, and accountable! Plus, with so many challenges to choose from, it’s easy to find something that fits your schedule and suits your goals.
Go For a Walk
Let’s not forget about the benefits of walking for fitness. In addition to reducing stress, boosting endurance, and benefiting cardiovascular health, walking can reduce the risk for serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Plus, it’s free, can benefit all body types and fitness levels, and can be squeezed in anytime, anywhere. Take your dog for a brisk morning walk, pick up the speed when holiday shopping, or get lost in nature with a serene winter hike.
Make it a Family Affair
No matter your family dynamic, there are so many ways to make movement part of your holiday tradition. Take a family stroll around the block to check out the neighborhood holiday decor, embrace friendly competition with a snowball fight or game of flag football, or bundle up and go skiing, sledding, or ice skating. Aside from getting a workout (without feeling like you’re working out), moving as a family is a great way to build new healthy traditions and benefit your mental health while bonding.
Wind Down The Day with a Yoga Flow or Simple Stretch
POV: After a long day of work, chasing after the kids, prepping for company, and preparing for holiday mayhem, you’re exhausted. Life happened, and you didn’t squeeze in a workout. Despite wanting to unwind with a glass of wine, you remember the mind-body benefits of exercise and roll out your mat for a guided FitOn yoga flow. Ahhh, that’s better. Within 15 minutes, you’re less stressed, more grounded, and ready to drift into a deep sleep. Easy peasy!
If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, irritable, or struggling to sleep due to racing thoughts, press play on a calming yoga flow or stretch. A simple way to fit movement into your busy holiday schedule!
RELATED: 14-Day Better Sleep Challenge
Turn Routine Tasks Into a Workout
Prepping for company? Running errands? Cleaning up before you head out of town? Turn your everyday tasks into a workout.
Here are some ideas:
- Engage your core while raking the leaves or squat while brushing your teeth
- Walk every grocery aisle while shopping and carry your bags in multiple trips
- Park further away from your destination while running errands
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- When putting clothes away, run up and down the stairs a few extra times
- Squat or deadlift when gathering firewood
Keep it Quick (& Consistent)
If you know you’re busy and short on time, why pressure yourself into a lengthy workout? By keeping it quick, you’re more likely to complete your workout and stay consistent with your regime. Plus, you don’t need to exercise for hours to feel or see results! In fact, short-duration workouts like HIIT workouts are highly effective. According to research, interval training workouts could even be more effective at fat burn and weight loss than continuous moderate-intensity workouts!
10 Short, Sweet, & Sweaty FitOn Workouts You Can Do At Home
No time to hit the gym or schedule a lengthy workout? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Not only are these workouts short and sweet, but they’re ultra-effective and can be performed from the comfort of your own home (or anywhere, really!)
Tabata Blaze
This 12-minute Tabata workout with Breann Mitchell proves short-duration workouts can be highly effective (and ultra sweaty!). Prepare to work your whole body — no equipment needed.
Total Bodyweight Blitz
No equipment needed for this 19-minute full-body sesh! Using just your own body weight, burn it out with Danielle in this circuit-style workout with eight bodyweight exercises.
Hot HIIT EMOM
Got 30 mins to spare? This hot and sweaty HIIT EMOM workout is for you. Grab a pair of dumbbells and prepare to leave it all on the mat!
Backside Burn
This 16-minute leg and booty burner with Julianne Hough and FitOn trainer Sydney will leave you feeling fatigued, in the best way possible. Burn your muscles and sculpt those fine lines — even if you’re short on time!
Jump Cardio
Want to torch some major calories in just 20 minutes? Join Amanda Kloots and BANDIER in this Jump Cardio workout. No jump rope? No worries! Lace up your sneakers and roll out your mat.
Quick Fiery Flow
Looking for a quick fiery flow? This 25-minute yoga sesh is for you. Join Peter Walters and prepare to turn up the heat.
Chill Out Flow
When you need to wind down and get grounded, chill out with this 20-minute yoga flow. The perfect addition to an evening stress-relief routine!
Dance & Sweat
Need to dance away the stress? Move, groove, and sweat with Shantani Moore in this 15-minute dance cardio workout!
Low Impact HIIT
Low-impact, high-intensity, and only 13-minutes long! When you’re pressed for time, press play on this apartment-friendly no-jumping BANDIER workout.
Morning Mobility Flow
Kick off the day with Dr. Jen Fraboni and this Morning Mobility Flow! Release stress and tension with 5 exercises in this whole body flow. All you need is 10 minutes!
Quick & Easy Movement Motivation During the Holiday Season
Whether you join a FitOn challenge or challenge your friends and family to some fun and friendly competition, there are so many ways to sneak movement into your holiday schedule. Schedule it in like you would an appointment, create new movement-centered family traditions, and turn simple daily tasks into exercise. Plan ahead and try to stay consistent, but don’t get discouraged if things don’t go as planned! Rather than let a hiccup sabotage your holiday fitness regime, simply pick up from where you left off.
With these simple hacks and quick workouts, keeping a consistent fitness routine during the busy holiday season is easier than you think.
