10 Ways to Stay Active for the Holidays!

This time of year is really busy for me. I know I’m not alone in the struggle. We are all running around shopping til we drop, cooking up a storm, and wrapping gifts like we work for Santa. ‘Tis the season. What was once the most magical time of year has become the most stress-inducing!

It’s so important that we keep up with our self-care routines between Thanksgiving and New Years but let’s face it, self-care is the easiest thing to drop off our never ending to-do lists.

Between the anxiety provoking family visits (learn how to arm yourself against nagging questions from aunties here), the stress of getting a big meal on the table, and the search for the perfect gift at the right price for everyone on your list, it’s truly a miracle that we all don’t just flop on the ground an die of exhaustion by January 1st.

Staying active during the holidays is even harder than it is the rest of the year. Who has the time to squeeze in power yoga between baking pies and fighting the crowds at the mall?

It can be really tough. But for me, it’s absolutely critical that I make time for fitness and exercise during the holidays. Because fitness is a form of self-care.

I’m not talking about burning calories or changing numbers on the scale. I’m talking about moving our bodies with intention and love to keep ourselves from going absolutely bonkers.

10 Ways to Stay Active this Holiday Season | Laurel and Iron

My relationship with exercise is a long story. And I will save it for another post but here’s the gist of it..

I no longer view exercise as a form of punishment for what I ate. Instead, I see it as a celebration of what my body is capable of.

Sure weight loss or maintenance can be an important part of our health journeys, especially in a season of overindulging but let’s leave calories out of the equation and focus on the real benefits of physical activity: stress relief, mental health, and time to ourselves.

So, how do we keep up with fitness when we have a mile long list of tasks to complete?

We make time. Because we’re fucking worth it.

I only swear on this blog when I mean serious business. So, know that I mean serious business here. Make time for yourself. Maybe that looks like waking up 30 minutes early to squeeze in a quick jog. Maybe that means buying cookies from your favorite bakery instead of making them from scratch for your office holiday party so you can get to yoga. Or maybe it means saying no to things because you’d rather go to spin class.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. We want to do it all but the reality is that we can’t.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Adopt this mantra “I cannot do it all but I can make time for myself.”

Listen friends, I get it! Time is a limited resource so no matter how much we may try to put ourselves first this time of year, we still only have 24 hours in a day. So, we have to make the most of what we’re given.

Some days that may be 20 minutes. Some days it may be 2 hours. It doesn’t really matter as long as your make that time in your day. Here are my tips on making fitting in fitness this holiday season!

Schedule a studio class. There is nothing more motivating to me when my bed is warm and the air outside is frigid than knowing that my hard-earned cash is on the line. If I don’t get my butt out of bed and to the studio, my class credit will go out the window. Once I’m there, I’ll forget all the reasons I had for not going and I’ll leave feeling like a million bucks!
Grab your friends. Get your accountability on, girl! Make a commitment to meet up with a friend at the gym or even in your living room for a sweat sesh. You wouldn’t dare bale on your bud, would you? If none of your friends are into fitness, check out the Tone It Up community to find like-minded girls in your area or a new Skype workout buddy!
Bring your gear with you. Traveling this year? No problem. Bring your sneakers and a set of resistance bands with you and you can get a work out in anywhere. Many gyms and studios offer drop-in or day rates. And if you’re staying at hotel, perfect! Most of them have gyms. Maybe not great gyms but beggars can’t be choosers! Doing a little research before you hit the road will ensure you have no excuses when you reach your destination.
Get your family on board. Instead of vegging out in front of the football game after a holiday meal, challenge everyone get active! Bundle up and take a walk or play a game of kickball in the yard. Working out alone when everyone else is relaxing is no fun - so get everyone involved.
Volunteer to walk dogs at a shelter. Do good and feel good. It’s that simple and animal shelters never turn down a volunteer. Nervous about walking a dog? No worries! The shelter will match you to a good walking companion if you don’t have any experience handling animals.
Try something new. Have you always wanted to take an aerial yoga class or try your hand at racketball? A new activity may be more motivating than your regular, old gym routine. So, now is a great time to finally tick it off your bucket list.
Make it a competition. If you’re the competitive type, make a bet with your mom, your friend, or your significant other. Who can log the most miles or do the most yoga classes between now and New Years Eve! Just don’t make it about weight loss. That’s not what we’re here for!
Surf YouTube. If you’re short on time, don’t have a gym membership, and aren’t ready to head to a fitness studio, work out from the comfort of your home for free with YouTube. There are literally thousands of fitness gurus posting workouts everyday. From yoga, to Pilates, to HIIT, there is so much out there for every fitness level. There are even zero-equipment workouts. And the best part, you can do them on your schedule. I love SarahFit ( a Boston-babe who does a little bit of everything), Cassey Ho (founder of Blogilates, an online Pilates community), Yoga with Adriene (she does yoga, obviously!), and of course, the Tone It Up girls (Karina and Katrina offer up everything from yoga flows, to HITT workouts, to body part focused strength training).
Set a goal and crush the heck out of it. Maybe your goal is walk three times a week or go to 15 spin classes or finally master that yoga pose you’ve struggling with. Set an end date. Create a tracker on your phone or on paper. And get to work. Imagine how good it will feel to do the damn thing!
Treat yo self! Do you normally work out at home because that Pilates reformer class is 30 bucks a pop? Check their website for seasonal sales and treat yourself to a class pack at discount! Do you go to the $10 a month gym but secretly yearn to check out the fancy one with the sauna? Gift yourself a day pass or see if they have an introductory price and switch it up for a week! This is the best time of year to try a new fitness routine (hello, New Year resolution sales!). And remember, you are worth it and it is okay to spend a little something on yourself!