How to Stay on Top of Your Workout Regimen Throughout the Holiday Season

Scrumptious meals, holiday gatherings, rich treats and the packed, harried schedules that make up the holidays can all combine to ruin your current workout schedule and dietary goals, thrusting you into chaos. Admittedly, staying on top of your current workout regimen amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays is challenging, but not impossible. Here are a few tips to help you maintain your current exercise routine throughout the holidays and into the new year:

How to Stick to a Workout Routine Over The Holidays

Establish Accountability Through a Partnership

Throughout the holidays, it is incredibly easy to justify skipping your workout. After all, there are a million things to do and very little time to complete all the items on your to-do list, which says nothing about your commitment to attend various events as well. Therefore, now more than ever, working out with someone else, having that partnership accountability is a great idea. Before the craziness of the holidays begins, determine who you want to partner with to go through the season as your accountability partner.

Begin your partnership by shopping for the best winter running leggings, the most beautiful yoga pants or just buying some new active wear apparel together for extra motivation. Then, set a schedule that works for you both and stick to it, with both of you committing to pushing the other to show up for your preset workout if things get a bit busy. This workout partner can be your significant other, your bestie or anyone else who you trust to push you when you need it most. If you are traveling and won't be able to physically be with your workout partner, create a system of accountability where you can both check up on each other, even if you are miles apart to ensure you are both staying focused on your workout goals.

Wake Up Earlier, Stay up Later, Add Hours to the Day

The busier your days become this holiday season, the more tempted you will be to just push aside your workout. That’s understandable. However, to ensure you still get your workout in, perhaps you need to begin adding some hours to your day by waking up a bit earlier or staying up later in the evenings. While you can’t actually create more than 24 hours in your day, you can change how many you are sleeping and how many you are awake.Be careful with this tip, your body needs adequate sleep, so if you wake up earlier in the morning to workout, that likely means you need to hit the hay a little earlier in the evenings to make up for it and vice versa. If you are not one to get up earlier, perhaps working out in the evenings after you have attended your various holiday activities would be best. Either way, even if it means waking up earlier or staying up later to do so, fit your workout into your day.

Understand the Importance

Ironically, one of the most stressful times of the year for most people, the holidays, is also the time that many people let their workout routine go. This is the worst time to do so, though, because working out is a great stress reliever and helps your mental health just as much as your physical health. Therefore, whatever you have to do to maintain your commitment to working out during the holidays, do it, not only for your waistline but for your overall well being as well.

Use the above tips to stay focused on your goals and keep rocking your exercise routine throughout the stress and demands of the holidays.