The holidays can be brutal for your fitness routine. Not only do many people travel or have family visiting from out of town, but there are always a number of events to add to the calendar. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we thought it would be a great time to dish out our favorite secrets to keeping up with your fitness routine, even when it’s one of the busiest times of the year.
It’s no secret that your fitness routine is important.
Whether your calendar is filling fast or your great aunt is deciding to pop in for the Thanksgiving holiday, keeping up with your fitness routine will only help you in managing the variety of holiday stressors. Remember, exercise is a great form of self-care (and it also helps that it is a natural mood booster), making it an important component of your holiday enjoyment.
Check out these three tips to keep that fitness factor intact no matter what the Thanksgiving holiday throws your way:
Keep an open mind
Sticking to your fitness routine doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hit the gym just like you do every other week of the year. When life throws you curveballs and you need to change course, it is important to stay flexible. This might mean opening yourself up to new experiences. Didn’t make your usual group exercise class? Try a different one. Don’t have time to visit the gym today at all? Dial up a You Tube workout or take a brisk walk instead. When it comes down to it, the important part is moving your body and staying active, not sticking to a rigid schedule.
Make some space for yourself
As you fill in your calendar of events this holiday season, intentionally set aside time for yourself daily to make sure you get what you need. Exercise is a great mood booster,and it provides numerous benefits for mental and physical health. Don’t feel guilty for blocking out a chunk of time so you can squeeze in a workout. It will make you happier, healthier and better able to enjoy your family and friends this Thanksgiving.
Choose a buddy
Have a workout buddy? If not, find one and make sure to hold each other accountable this holiday season. Life is simply better with friends and workouts are way more fun. If you know that you are going to be able to socialize while you lift or Zumba your way to better health, you might be more likely to head to the gym rather than binge watch that holiday special on Netflix (although there is nothing wrong with that!).
In the end, be gentle with yourself. Remember that holidays are stressful for many people. Sometimes, there just might be no possible way you can make your fitness routine happen. If that’s the case, remember there is always tomorrow (or next week). Hopefully, though, you will find that one of these secrets works for you and you can manage to meet your exercise goals, even as you juggle turkey carving and present shopping. Cheers to a lovely holiday season!
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