It’s hard to stay active during the holidays when your schedule doesn’t give you much room for negotiation. If you’re struggling to stick to your fitness routine this time of year, you’re not alone. In fact, most people report that they fall off the exercise bandwagon during the holidays while they juggle full-time jobs, shopping, social gatherings and more.
Staying Active is a Pillar of Good Health
Health recommendations advise that exercising with moderate intensity for a minimum of 150 minutes per week will give you the best health benefits. For many of us though, this can be hard to do. Fortunately, recent studies show that incorporating even small amounts of physical, sporadic activity into the day can improve health when compared to staying sedentary.
So, when your agenda starts to fill up this holiday season, don’t make an excuse to give up. It’s possible to sneak in the time to exercise if you’re strategic with how you prioritize.
Small Tips for Staying Active
As insignificant as they may seen, small daily bursts of activity can make big changes to your health. Consider adjusting your routine this month to include some or all of the following:
- Walk your neighborhood to see Christmas lights
- Do a deep clean or vacuum frequently
- Use a shared printer further away from your office
- Park your car further away
- Carry a hand basket instead of using a cart at the store
- Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator
- Skip the drive thru; walk into the business
- Get moving during your lunch hour
- Walk your dog often and play outside together
- Use business meetings as a walking opportunity
Intensity Matters
However you choose to stay active, increasing exercise intensity can yield better results with less time. If your holiday schedule is tight, incorporate shorter workouts that are more effective.
- Split Your Workout into sessions to have an energizing rest and recovery period.
- Pick-up the Pace to rev-up your hear rate, burn more calories and save on time.
- Exercise On an Incline to build more muscle and achieve higher cardio-respiratory levels
Final Thoughts:
The conclusion? Staying active in any way, whether it’s a small change to your routine or an hour long workout at the gym, benefits your health and makes an impact on your body. And, when you can manage it, adding more intensity will allow you to reap even greater rewards. Use these tips this holiday season to fight stress, burn calories and stay energized.
