Enjoy the Holidays and Feel Great Doing It: Your Holiday Wellness Game Plan
Simple strategies for balancing celebration and consistency this holiday season.
The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and connection. But for many of us, they’re also a season of cancelled workouts, indulgent meals, and slipping routines. At AIM Fitness, we believe you can enjoy the holidays and maintain (or even improve!) your wellness. Here’s how:
1. Set SMART, Realistic Holiday Goals
It’s no secret that the holidays can be an incredibly busy time of year. Between travel, events, and time with loved ones it can be hard to simply find the time to dedicate to your typical wellness routine.
Realistically, you may need to temporarily modify your goals, and replace them with new ones created especially for this busy season. We recommend using the SMART model, goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. For example, “I’ll train 3× this week for 30 minutes each.”
2. Create a Plan
One way to stay on track is to put workouts on the calendar like any other event. Also, if you find yourself in a pinch, shorter workouts (ie. 20 minutes of strength or interval training) can still improve endurance and help maintain progress.
This may require planning ahead to make sure you bring the appropriate gear, identify a solid workout plan or program, and/or map out a few good local places to exercise beforehand. Remember: Even a short workout session beats doing nothing, and your body will thank you in January.
3. Make Movement Easy & Fun
Another way to help stay on track is to keep movement simple during this extra busy time of year. For example, choose workouts that fit your schedule and space. Maybe that looks like a morning run at a local park, a bodyweight circuit, a long walk after dinner, or even getting in extra steps while holiday shopping.
You can also make holiday workouts more fun by having them double as a social activity. Invite a friend or family member along to keep you motivated.
4. Choose Treats with Intentionality
The holidays often come with special meals and celebrations involving food. While you should absolutely enjoy some festive treats, here are a few tips to ensure that they don’t derail your wellness goals:
First off, don’t skip meals. Skipping meals to “save” calories often backfires, leading to overindulging later. When filling your plate, be sure to focus on including nourishing options, such as whole grains, vegetables, lean protein, and fiber. Also, don’t forget to hydrate!
Treat yourself to your favorite festive foods, but be mindful of the quantity and portion. Let go of an all or nothing mindset that is overly restrictive, or alternatively can turn one night of enjoyment into a whole season of unhealthy eating. The bottom line: choose treats intentionally, then move on. The goal is mindful enjoyment, not perfection.
5. Be Kind to Yourself & Adjust As Needed
Flexibility is essential to successfully navigating the holidays. From schedule changes, last minute travel, to unexpected events, you may need to pivot a time or two.
If you miss a workout, don’t stress. Just get back to your routine once feasible. If your time is tight, scale down: 20 minutes of movement is better than nothing. Again, ditch the all or nothing mentality and allow yourself to enjoy the holidays, knowing that your wellness routine might just have to look a little different for a week or two.
Start the New Year Ahead, Not Behind
Staying active through the holidays isn’t about sticking to a rigid routine, it’s about keeping your momentum. When you make time for movement and prioritize healthy habits, you’ll head into the new year feeling stronger, more energized, and proud of the consistency you kept. At AIM Fitness, we’re here to help you build real strength for real life—holidays included.
