Creative Ways to Stay Active During the Holidays

The holiday season is a whirlwind of celebrations, family gatherings, and delicious meals. While it’s a time for joy and connection, it’s also easy to sideline physical activity in the hustle and bustle. Staying active is essential for managing holiday stress, boosting your mood, and keeping your health on track.

The good news? You don’t need to spend hours at the gym to stay fit during the holidays. Here are fun and creative ways to keep moving while embracing the festive spirit.

1. Make Holiday Chores a Workout

Holiday preparations can double as an opportunity to burn calories and stay active.

1. Gift Wrapping Workout: Set up a wrapping station on the floor and do stretches or seated core exercises between gifts.
2. Deck the Halls with Steps: Climbing up and down the ladder to hang lights or decorations is a great lower-body workout.
3. Clean with Intention: Tidy up for guests with vigorous scrubbing, vacuuming, and mopping to get your heart rate up.

2. Plan Active Family Traditions

Start new traditions that combine holiday fun with movement.

1. Holiday Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of holiday-themed items for your family to find during a walk around the neighborhood or local park.
2. Dance Party: Blast your favorite holiday tunes and get everyone grooving in the living room.
3. Ice Skating: Head to a nearby rink for a festive and calorie-torching activity.

3. Incorporate Fitness into Festive Fun

Holidays are about spending time together, so why not add some activity to the mix?

1. Turkey Trot or Fun Run: Many communities host holiday-themed races for all fitness levels. Get the family involved for some friendly competition.
2. Active Board Games: Choose games like Twister or charades that keep everyone moving.
3. Holiday-Themed Yoga: Follow a YouTube yoga session with poses inspired by reindeer, snowflakes, or candy canes.

4. Turn Shopping into Cardio

Holiday shopping can be more than just a chore—it’s also an excellent way to stay active.

1. Power Walk the Mall: Skip the escalators and take the stairs, walk briskly between stores, and carry your shopping bags for an extra arm workout.
2. Park Farther Away: Choose a parking spot farther from the entrance to get in more steps.
3. Outdoor Markets: Visit outdoor holiday markets for fresh air and a stroll while browsing for unique gifts.

5. Challenge Yourself with a Fitness Advent Calendar

Create a fitness-themed advent calendar to stay motivated throughout December.

1. Each day, unveil a short workout, such as 20 squats, 10 push-ups, or a quick 5-minute jog.
2. Include holiday-themed activities like snow shoveling, sledding, or making snow angels.
3. Reward yourself at the end of the calendar with a non-food treat, like new workout gear or a relaxing massage.

6. Combine TV Time with Movement

Holiday movies and specials are a seasonal favorite, but sitting for hours can lead to inactivity.

1. Commercial Break Challenges: Do jumping jacks, squats, or planks during commercials.
2. Movie Workout Game: Create a list of fitness moves tied to movie moments (e.g., do 10 push-ups every time someone says “Santa”).
3. Stretch While You Watch: Use the time to stretch or practice yoga poses on the floor.

7. Explore the Outdoors

Take advantage of the cooler weather and the beauty of the season with outdoor activities.

1. Nature Walks: Enjoy a brisk walk through a park or trail to admire holiday lights or seasonal foliage.
2. Winter Sports: Try sledding, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing for a fun and challenging workout.
3. Outdoor Games: Organize a game of touch football, soccer, or frisbee with friends and family.

8. Schedule Mini Workouts

If your schedule is packed, short bursts of activity can be just as effective as longer workouts.

1. Morning Wake-Up Routine: Start your day with 10 minutes of bodyweight exercises like push-ups, lunges, and planks.
2. Stair Sprints: If you have stairs at home, run or walk up and down a few times during breaks.
3. Bedtime Stretch: End your day with 5–10 minutes of gentle stretching to relax your muscles and mind.

9. Host an Active Holiday Party

Transform your gatherings into opportunities to get everyone moving.

1. Themed Dance Off: Encourage guests to dress as their favorite holiday character and have a dance contest.
2. Holiday Relay Races: Organize games like “snowball” toss (using cotton balls) or gift-carrying relays.
3. Active Charades: Take your holiday-themed guessing games up a notch with full-body acting.

10. Incorporate Fitness Apps or Online Classes

If you’re short on time or prefer to stay indoors, fitness apps and virtual classes can keep you active.

1. Choose holiday-themed workouts or yoga sessions to keep things festive.
2. Use step-tracking apps to set daily movement goals and challenge friends or family.
3. Find quick, equipment-free workouts that you can do anywhere, like in your living room or hotel room.

11. Get Kids Involved

Children are full of energy, so tap into their enthusiasm to stay active as a family.

1. Snow Play: Build a snowman, make snow forts, or have a friendly snowball fight.
2. Obstacle Course: Set up a holiday-themed course indoors or outside with simple challenges.
3. Reindeer Games: Organize playful activities like a sack race or pin the nose on Rudolph.

12. Don’t Forget Self-Care

Taking time for yourself is just as important as staying physically active.

1. Walk and Talk: Use time with friends or family to go on a walk and catch up.
2. Stretch or Meditate: A few minutes of focused breathing or stretching can refresh your mind and body.
3. Be Flexible: Adjust your fitness expectations during the holidays and focus on maintaining balance rather than perfection.

13. Set Realistic Goals

Rather than aiming for intense workouts, focus on consistent movement.

1. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity most days, even if it’s broken into smaller sessions.
2. Use wearable devices to track your steps and set attainable goals, such as 10,000 steps per day.
3. Celebrate small victories, like choosing stairs over elevators or adding an extra walk after dinner.

Staying active during the holidays doesn’t have to feel like a chore. By weaving movement into your festive routines, you can stay fit, energized, and stress-free while creating meaningful memories with loved ones.

This holiday season, challenge yourself to embrace the joy of movement—your body and mind will thank you!