By Maddie Hays, MS, CN
Between travel, work events, preparing holiday meals, and spending time with loved ones, the winter holiday season can quickly become a hectic time of year.
Maintaining an exercise routine can be hard enough under normal circumstances; but throw in an inflated social calendar, and can feel near impossible! And we get it; it’s very easy to throw movement by the wayside when other obligations come up. But although it’s a busy time of year, you don’t have to let your exercise routine slip away until New Year’s.
Here are our top tips to keep movement and exercise part of your day, no matter what the schedule brings.
1.) Make a plan
We all have goals when it comes to physical activity. If you have a goal to, say, exercise three times a week, pencil it into your day. This will help ensure that time is blocked for your activity. Put it on your calendar or set a reminder so you don’t forget.
2.) Get the family involved
If you usually take a walk during the day, invite any relatives or friends staying with you to come along. More of an exercise class person? Ask your friend or family member if they’d like to join. Many studios offer day passes for out-of-towners. You can also plan a hike or nature walk with others. Not only can it make the activity more enjoyable, but it can also allow time for different forms of connection.
3.) Find portable exercises
Those of us who are staying in hotels, taking a road trip to see our best friend, or bunking in our great-aunt’s daughter’s basement may find that space and access to equipment are limited. Try bodyweight-only exercises, yoga, or bring a pack of resistance bands (which travel nicely in a carry-on). It may not be the same as a full gym or fitness class, but it can still satisfy your body’s need to move.
4.) Explore on foot
Maybe you’re visiting your partner’s family for the first time during the holidays, or your friends decided to do a destination Friendsgiving. Regardless of the circumstances, it can be fun to explore a place that’s new to you. Walk around the town, the city, or the cul-de-sac and see what’s around. You may get lucky and find a free little library, hidden gem coffee shop, or a scenic trail.
5.) Be flexible
With the various commitments this time of year, it’s important to recognize that you may not get your movement in as planned. And that’s okay! Some movement is better than none at all. Take a quick jog around your block while the turkey roasts, or plan to attend your exercise class in the morning instead of after work. Remember, there’s always tomorrow if things go awry today.
Now’s the time to get a plan for the new year to optimize your health!
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