Exercises to Sneak in During the Holidays

Mente Soul won’t discuss the importance of exercise here. If you want to read more about exercise benefits I found helpful in TBI recovery for the mind and body please read 4 Ways Physical Fitness Affects the Brain and How Weightlifting Enhances Your Mind.

Returning from a holiday break isn’t always satisfying. Aside from waking up early for work and school, we glance at the mirror to see we pushed health aside. The fitness goals we made before the holidays took a long pause. “There’s no way I can fit fitness into my family schedule.” Don’t surrender before trying. A little exercise is better than none at all.

1. Bathroom breaks, lunch breaks, plank breaks?

   1. When at work or busy with family ask for a minute away. This free time can be used for more than going to the bathroom or a glass of water. Find an area with enough space to hold a plank which may be next to your chair and set up when ready.

   2. You scheduled one plank to be done every hour and it’s 10:58. Leave the chair and prepare to hold a plank at 11. Time yourself with a watch, a phone stopwatch, or counting in your head. Feel free to change plank to another bodyweight exercise like standing squats or pushups for more

2. Organize the Event

   1. Alter the traditional snacking and drinking during conversations or watching television to an activity that is fun and rewarding. Think of this as something new everyone enjoys.

   2. Before watching a movie or show invite others to participate in an exercise break. The exercises should be possible without extra equipment such as standing lunges. Invite everyone to do something like 20 lunges every 30 min.

      1. Mente Soul gave group exercise ideas at this link. We don’t advise including a group workout from the beginning but learn if people like exercise games and ask about this in the future.

   3. The amusement can be anything with motion such as dance or hide-and-seek with family kids. Plan an activity game for the family to play such as basketball or catch with a football, frisbee, etc. 

3. Change the commute

   1. Destination to pursue any endeavor is part of any plan. The following considers most forms of transit except airplanes. Adjust your travel for buying gifts, for example, by doing the following:

      1. Park further away from stores. When short on time for a workout add walking distance to your day for additional cardio.

      2. Take the stairs. The walk may include several levels to reach stores or a car in a parking garage. Before carrying any presents, avoid the elevator to add stair climbs to the route.

   2. Purchasing presents to wrap isn’t the only possible moment to further movement. Before and during meetings ask family and friends if they are interested in talking outside the house. Converse while walking the neighborhood, street, or any place everyone has time for.

4. Clean

   1. Cleaning before guests arrive or for another family member is active. The movement is cardio-based and may involve strength endurance such as lifting furniture.

   2. Next time someone asks you to help them clean, think of the inquiry as a chance to fit some exercise in the day. Dusting the bookcases is a chore, but why not broaden it with exercises such as 10 squats after wiping each level? Combine chores with exercise adapting to the modified workout time availability.

The exercises to sneak in during the holidays are by no means a workout replacement. We understand there might not always be enough time or an appropriate exercise spot when traveling or accommodating visitors. However, attempt to discover something out of the ordinary. Holidays or any event don’t lower your health; your self-discipline does.