Embracing The Holiday Hustle: Your Guide To Staying Fit And Festive

The holiday season is synonymous with hustle and bustle – shopping, decorating, cooking, and endless social gatherings. Amidst the excitement and chaos, it’s easy for fitness routines to fall by the wayside. But the holiday hustle can be a fantastic opportunity to stay active and keep fitness at the forefront of all your holiday festivities! Here’s how you can put a fitness twist on your holiday activities.  

Work Your Wallet AND Your Body

Online shopping has made it easy to sit, scroll, and “Add To Cart” without doing much leg work. Try to do your shopping in-store whenever you can, as store shopping can involve a lot of walking. Turn it into a workout by parking further away from the entrance and taking extra laps around the store or by picking up the pace and power walking between stores to elevate your heart rate and burn more calories. Once you’ve purchased gifts, consider your shopping bags as weights and carry them evenly in both hands to engage your muscles and improve your strength.

Actively Deck the Halls

While decorating for the holiday season may not qualify as a “workout,” but it can help you stay active when you have so much to do during the holidays. Stretch as you hang ornaments, squat and place presents under the tree each time, and lift boxes of decorations with your whole body to train your functional strength. Add in bursts of cardio by hitting the stairs to grab more decorations, or by going for a brisk walk around the block. Decorating outdoors? Stringing lights outside can be quite the physical activity. Climbing ladders, reaching, and bending all contribute to a good workout, so, bundle up, grab a partner to spot you, and get decorating!

Festive Gatherings

The best holidays are the ones with great memories of time spent with family and friends – and even better holidays are ones that make memories with a fitness twist! Incorporate active games into your holiday gatherings, like organizing a friendly game of charades, Twister, or a dance-off to get everyone moving. After a big meal, suggest a family walk around the neighborhood to look at holiday lights, as walking is a great way to help digest your food and feel better after eating. And when you can, opt to stand rather than sit when socializing at parties. Standing burns more calories and engages your muscles more than sitting.

Incorporate Fitness into Traditions

Put a fitness twist on your holiday traditions! Many communities host holiday-themed runs and walks, like Turkey Trots or Santa Runs, so participate in these events with family and friends. Create a fitness advent calendar with daily exercise challenges, such as a plank hold, push-ups, or a short run. If your tradition involves contributing to the community, you can volunteer for holiday charity events that involve physical activity, like delivering meals or participating in community clean-ups.

Mindful Eating During the Hustle

During the holidays, everywhere you turn, there is decadent, indulgent, delicious food waiting for you to eat. These foods are part of the holiday season, so we encourage you to enjoy them in moderation! No matter the time of year, staying on track with your health and fitness involves paying attention to the foods you consume. Try to plan for these indulgences ahead of time so you can enjoy the holidays without losing your fitness gains! Keep healthy snacks like nuts, fruits, and veggies to keep your energy up. Enjoy holiday treats in moderation using smaller plates and be mindful of portion sizes to avoid overeating. And always remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and curb unnecessary snacking. 

The holiday hustle doesn’t have to derail your fitness goals. Integrating physical activity into your holiday tasks and traditions allows you to stay active and healthy while enjoying the festive season. Embrace the hustle, make mindful choices, and turn holiday activities into opportunities for movement and fun. Happy Holidays and happy hustling! 

Are you traveling for the holidays? Or hosting visitors and can’t make it to the gym? Here’s a FREE workout routine below that you can do at home or take on the road with you! Be sure to consult your physician before beginning any workout or exercise program.