How To Stay Active and Exercise Over The Holidays and Beyond

Let’s be honest - it can be challenging to exercise regularly at the best of times. Add holidays to the mix, and exercise often slips down the priority list, especially as our to-do list grows. Despite the busyness of the season, it’s important to try and maintain your exercise routine. Prioritizing exercise can not only help ensure your clothes still fit after all the celebrating, but it will also give you the energy to fully enjoy the season.

(Santa) hats off to those who effortlessly stick to their gym timetable over the coming weeks. For the rest of us who find the holiday season a challenging time, here are practical ways you can stay active and exercise over the holidays.

1) Look for a Holiday Fun Run

Fun runs are often held over the holidays and can help you compensate for enjoying an extra holiday treat, or three. These runs are usually a 5km distance and provide the option to either walk or run. Better yet, invite friends and family to join you. Running a race together is bound to be more memorable than an eggnog toast. Even better; run first and celebrate later.

2) Turn Chores Into Exercise

Put on your favourite music and get a good workout cleaning the house in preparation for visitors. A bout of strenuous housework will burn energy and you’ll have the reward of a fabulous looking house  at the end! Same goes for work outside in the garden or shoveling snow (depending on what Mother Nature has in store!)

If you are hosting guests over the holiday season, be sure to ask them to bring workout gear suitable for walks or hiking, or make the most of winter and strap on some skates.  When exercising in the cold remember to layer up, pack your hat, mitts, sunscreen and water bottle.  

If you are struggling to find the motivation to work out, remember that something is always better than nothing. If you don’t think that you have time for a one-hour group fitness class, then go on a brisk walk around your neighbourhood. If you don’t feel like leaving your house, do a 10-minute YouTube yoga class in your pyjamas.  Even small choices like taking the stairs over the elevator can add up. Do what you can and keep on, keeping on.  

Without a doubt, the single best tip for overall well-being during the holidays is to not buy into feeling guilty about food or exercise – enjoy the season mindfully, rest if you need it and do what you can to stay active.