Tips for Staying Active During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is often filled with family gatherings, parties, and celebrations that can disrupt your regular fitness routine. With busy schedules, travel, and tempting festive treats, it can be challenging to stay active. In this guide, we’ll explore strategies to help you maintain your fitness during the holidays. You’ll learn how to stay active while balancing time constraints, indulge without overdoing it, stay on track while traveling, and set realistic fitness goals for the season.

The Challenges of Staying Active During the Holidays 

During the holiday season, staying active can feel like an uphill battle. Between social commitments, travel, and holiday indulgence, it’s easy to let your fitness routine slip. Here’s a look at some of the common challenges people face when trying to stay active during the holidays:

Time Constraints 

The holidays often come with busy schedules packed with shopping, traveling, and social events, making it difficult to stick to regular workouts. Finding time to exercise between all the festivities can be overwhelming.

Tip: Plan short but effective workouts around your schedule. Even 20-minute routines can be enough to maintain your fitness level. Whether it’s a brisk walk in the morning or a short HIIT session before dinner, these quick workouts can keep you moving.

Overindulgence and Holiday Treats 

Festive meals and treats can lead to overeating, leaving you feeling sluggish or unmotivated to exercise. It’s easy to push fitness to the side when you feel full and tired after indulging in holiday foods.

Tip: Balance indulgent meals with physical activity. A quick walk after a big meal can help with digestion and keep you moving. Avoid feeling guilty about indulgences—just make sure to stay active as part of your overall holiday routine.

Travel and Disrupted Routines 

Travelling to visit family and friends can disrupt your regular fitness routine. Limited space, lack of gym access, and unfamiliar environments can make working out more challenging while away from home.

Tip: Pack lightweight fitness gear like resistance bands or a skipping rope to maintain your routine while on the go. Rebel Sport offers a range of portable equipment ideal for travel workouts. With minimal space and equipment, you can still stay fit even when travelling.

How to Stay Active During the Holidays 

Staying active during the holiday season doesn’t require a full-on workout routine. You can incorporate movement into your daily activities, making fitness feel more like part of the fun. Here are some practical ways to keep moving:

Prioritise Short Workouts 

If you’re pressed for time, focus on shorter, high-intensity workouts that can deliver maximum benefits in minimal time. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) or bodyweight circuits are excellent options that require no equipment.

Tip: Aim for quick 15-20 minute sessions focusing on different muscle groups. If you have a busy day ahead, do a quick morning workout to boost your energy levels. A 20-minute HIIT session with bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, and planks can be done almost anywhere. Rebel Sport offers fitness accessories like yoga mats and resistance bands to enhance your home workouts.

Incorporate Physical Activity into Festive Events 

Staying active doesn’t have to mean traditional gym workouts. During the holiday season, there are many fun ways to incorporate movement into your celebrations. Physical activity can be a fun part of socialising, and it’s an easy way to engage with family and friends.

Tip: Engage in family-friendly sports like a game of touch rugby, backyard cricket, or soccer. Even a walk in the park or beach volleyball with family and friends counts as physical activity.

Stay Active While Travelling 

If you’re away from home during the holidays, don’t let travel derail your fitness goals. You can stay active in airports, hotel rooms, or even while visiting family.

Tip: Opt for workouts that require minimal space or equipment. Bodyweight exercises, yoga, or stretching routines can be done in a hotel room or outdoors. If you’re flying, take a walk through the airport terminal to stay active between flights.

Tip for Runners: If you’re staying near a park or beach, pack your running shoes and take advantage of the new scenery. Rebel Sport offers a range of lightweight, travel-friendly running gear, so you can enjoy a run in a new location.

Make Family Time Active 

The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to spend time with loved ones, and you can turn these moments into opportunities to stay active together. It’s a fun way to bond while keeping everyone moving.

Tip: Plan family activities that involve physical movement, such as bike rides, ice skating, or swimming. These activities are not only fun but also keep everyone moving without feeling like "exercise."

Tip for Families with Kids: Organise a friendly competition, such as a relay race or an obstacle course in the backyard. Kids love interactive games, and it encourages everyone to get moving.

Setting Realistic Fitness Goals for the Holiday Season 

The holiday season isn’t the best time to push for new fitness goals, but it’s a great time to focus on maintaining your fitness level. Setting realistic and flexible goals can keep you motivated without the pressure of major milestones.

Focus on Maintenance, Not Progress 

The holidays can be a challenging time to push for new fitness goals. Instead of striving for major fitness milestones, focus on maintaining your current level of activity and fitness.

Tip: If you usually work out five times a week, aim for three workouts during the holiday season. Keeping some level of activity will help you feel balanced and make it easier to get back into your full routine once the holidays are over.

Set Flexible, Enjoyable Goals 

Staying active doesn’t mean sticking to a rigid plan. Instead, set goals that are fun and flexible, allowing you to enjoy the holidays while staying on track with your fitness.

Tip: Create goals that fit your holiday activities, such as walking 10,000 steps a day, completing a quick workout before each meal, or doing a morning yoga session to stretch out any holiday stress.

Tip for Parents: If you have kids, involve them in your activities. Family walks, outdoor play, or even a dance-off in the living room can be a fun way to stay active while spending quality time together.

Healthy Habits Beyond Exercise 

Exercise is only one part of the equation. To stay active during the holidays, it’s important to focus on other healthy habits that will help you feel your best.

Prioritise Sleep for Better Energy 

Amidst the busy holiday schedule, sleep is often neglected. However, getting enough rest is crucial for maintaining energy levels and supporting overall health.

Tip: Stick to a consistent sleep schedule, even during the holidays. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night to help your body recover from workouts and stay energised. Better sleep also means more motivation to stay active and engaged during the day.

Balance Nutrition with Festive Foods 

It’s common to indulge in festive treats, but staying mindful of your overall nutrition can help you feel better and stay active during the holidays.

Tip: Balance heavy holiday meals with lighter, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially if you’re consuming alcohol or salty foods.

Get Everythin You Need to Stay Active This Holiday Season 

Staying active during the holidays doesn’t have to be a challenge. By prioritising short workouts, incorporating activity into festive events, and setting realistic fitness goals, you can maintain your fitness and enjoy the season. For all your fitness gear needs, from resistance bands to running shoes, visit Rebel Sport to get everything you need to stay active and healthy during the holidays.