Between all of the parties, travel, shopping and cooking, the holidays can throw any sense of routine out of the window. While the festive season can make it a challenge to fit in a workout, staying active during the holidays can be easier and more fun than you might think!
So worry not! We’ve gathered a list of six easy ways to squeeze in some fitness during this busy time of year that will surely keep you active – and may even boost your holiday spirit!
1. Sneak Exercise Into Your Routine. While you may be tempted to ditch your regular workouts until the new year, trainer Cathy Moxley, MA, author of The Busy Mom’s Ultimate Fitness Guide, suggests modifying what you normally do, creating a variation of it that works. Remember, it all adds up … So whether you’re doing 10 minutes three times a day or 30 minutes at one stretch, every little bit counts. Have a lot of cooking to do for dinner guests? Pop in a workout DVD or check out a fitness app while the turkey’s in the oven. Even if you have only 10 minutes – or 15 minutes – there are plenty of ways to get moving in a short amount of time.
2. Combine Family Obligations and Exercise. Turn off the telly and start a new family tradition: Gather up the gang and take a nice refreshing stroll before or after meals, take the kids sledding, go bowling or play touch football. You can even turn being active into a challenge. Outfit the family with pedometers or another fitness tracker and then reward the person with the most steps at the end of the week! Here’s how to use your smart phone to track your activities.
3. Start a Dance Party. It’s holiday music season, which means it should come naturally to boogie down to festive heart-pumping beats. Most families have some signature moves, so invite friends over and have a dance off! Whether it’s doing the mashed potato to golden oldies, boogying to ‘70s hits, or pumping and jumping to pop and rock tracks, dancing never goes out of style. Need some inspiration? Here are 10 Festive Tunes to get you moving!
4. Sign Up at the YMCA or for Charity Miles. Your local YMCA likely has an agenda that’s as packed with cold-weather activities as Santa’s sack will be with toys. Find your Y here and see what’s in store for your community or grab the family and some friends and bike, walk, or run for the charity of your choice with Charity Miles! You’ll be doing your body good for a good cause. It’s a win-win!
5. Walk (or Bike) in a Winter Wonderland. Whether it’s chasing snowflakes during the first snowfall, taking a walking tour of your neighbors’ front yard décor or leading a carol-singing party, nothing beats the splendor of an old-fashioned winter walk. Or get the heart rate up and recruit friends for a bike ride around the neighborhood. Want to make this a family outing, but your little one hasn’t yet mastered traveling on two wheels? Check out a training bike like FirstBIKE, which has a cycle for children aged 2-5, along with a no-stress method of learning to ride.
6. Playing in the Snow. Snow doesn’t fall in all parts of the country, but it can make for some fun physical activities if you find yourself in a winter wonderland.
