| The holidays can be magical, chaotic, joyful, stressful, nostalgic, and exhausting—all at the same time. It tends to be the time of year where we get so wrapped up in all the festivities that we forget to take care of ourselves (which can lead to holiday burnout!) Staying active and grounded during this season doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be intentional. Here are a few ways to stay sane and moving through it all: 1. Show yourself grace. Seriously. Be kind to yourself. The holidays are wonderful, but they’re also a lot. They can be busy, emotional, and stressful. It’s okay to have a glass of wine with your high school bestie. It’s okay if you don’t make every workout you normally do. It’s okay to eat the pumpkin pie. The quickest way to ruin the holidays is by depriving yourself of joy, or obsessing over missing that 6am strength class. There is always tomorrow. Which leads me to my next point… 2. Don’t wait for January 1st to make changes. Start now — even with small things. Take a post-dinner walk with your neighbor. Sign up for the gym even if you can only go a couple times between parties and family visits. Anything that aligns your lifestyle with the person you want to be is progress. Putting enormous pressure on January 1st (or January 2nd, depending on how the celebrations go…) is one of the fastest ways to burn out. There will always be something on the calendar — whether it’s January 3rd, May 1st, or September 20th. There is no magical date. It’s about knowing your why, and remembering that your health matters every day — not just at the start of a year. Believe that now, so you can become the best version of yourself sooner. 3. Make time to mentally reset. Even when we have goals, if our stress is too high, everything shuts down. When your to-do list is 2 pages long and you don’t know where to start… you don’t. Then suddenly it is four pages, and you’re sinking without a life jacket. A reset helps you breathe again.For me, when life feels chaotic, focusing on something physical helps — like getting a manicure and pedicure. That small act makes me feel refreshed, put together, and more ready to tackle the day.Your version might be different — a cabin getaway, a quiet morning with coffee, or snuggling on the couch with your dog while finally reading that book that’s been waiting for months.Whatever clears your head — do it. Because our thoughts dictate our actions. When we’re overwhelmed, doing nothing becomes the default, and that cycle only gets harder to break. It’s not about perfection — it’s about simply not staying stagnant. 4. Stay connected to movement you genuinely enjoy. The holidays are not the time to force yourself into workouts you dread. If you love strength training, great. If you prefer hill sprints, amazing. If dancing in your kitchen to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” counts as cardio for the day — perfect. Movement should feel supportive, not punishing. Do what brings you energy, reduces stress, and keeps you feeling like you. Even 10 minutes counts. 5. Remember: consistency beats intensity. One great workout won’t change your life, just like one missed workout won’t ruin anything. What matters is staying in motion — even in small, imperfect ways. A short workout. A walk with your dog. Choosing water a few more times. Stretching before bed.Tiny habits get you further than sporadic perfection ever will. Your goal during the holidays isn’t to crush a fitness transformation — it’s simply to keep showing up for yourself in little ways. As we enter the holiday season, if you take nothing else away from these 5 tips but one thing, let it be this. Remember to choose actions that support your health and fitness every day, even if they are small. The holidays do not have to be all or nothing. You deserve to enjoy the holidays and still feel good in your body and mind. |
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5 Tips to Stay Sane and Active During the Holidays
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