Holiday motivation: How to keep your fitness goals this festive season

The holiday season is one of the most difficult times to stay motivated to be healthy. Holidays have a tendency to cause quite a disruption in our normal diet and exercise routine. So, why is it so difficult to stay motivated during the holidays?

Well, the food is more delicious, and it’s a crazy busy time of year. Between work, family, planning, and parties finding the time for a gym session can be nearly impossible.

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Every year you tell yourself you’re going to stay motivated during the holidays, so this season follow these tips to make it happen.

1. Maintain the right mindset. Go into the holiday season determined and dedicated. Make a promise to yourself that you are going to stick to your holiday health plan. Don’t make excuses when the time comes for your workout. If you don’t have time after work, work out before, if you are out of town, go for a run outside or a hike with your family. Just keep moving.
2. Make a schedule. Making a plan and work-out schedule ahead of time will make it a lot more difficult to make excuses when the time comes. If you are prepared, you are more likely to get it done. Take a look at your schedule and write down the times that you will be able to get in your workout session.
3. Workout with a partner. Ask a good friend or family member to be your workout partner and head with you to the gym or do a home workout. Having someone to hold you accountable for your workouts and vice versa will ease the pressure on you to stay self-motivated. Even if you and your workout partner are going to be apart for certain holidays and occasions, stay in touch and keep each other accountable throughout the time.
4. Make it a family activity. If you are struggling to find the time to balance working out and also spending time with your family, make getting an exercise workout a family activity. Go on a hike with your family, a walk, play a dance game, or kick it up a notch and try a fitness class together.
5. Try group fitness classes. Try a group fitness class. Group fitness classes are a great way to stay motivated. They are easy to plan and add to your schedule, they include workout buddies, work to burn fat and calories, and have a great coach keeping you excited and energised the entire duration of the class. Whatever your fitness goals may be, there is a group exercise class to suit you.
6. Do short HIIT workouts. When you are short on time, try HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts. They achieve a lot in a short amount of time. They are great in that they incorporate cardio, as well as strength training.

Best HIIT exercises:

• Push-ups
• Sit-ups
• Lunges
• Crunches
• Jumping jacks
• High knees
• Cable chops
• Squat

Workaround these holiday workout tips and you are sure to stay motivated this season.

Additional reporting by Thapelo Mowela

Zulu is a qualified biokineticist and cofounder of PopUpGym. Follow her on Instagram: @letshego.zulu; Twitter: @letshegom; Facebook: Letshego Zulu