How can you find time for fitness with all the crazy busy things you have to deal with this time of year? (Or really any time of year…)

I constantly hear from my clients that they can’t make workouts or they don’t have time to workout during the holiday season. And, I completely understand that life can get crazy and hectic managing schedules, activities, and work – not to mention all the ‘extra ‘ that happens during the holiday time.

So, here’s my two cents on how to continue with a fitness focus even if you can’t make it to your favorite class or the gym during this time:

1. Your workout doesn’t have to be an hour to make it count.
For some reason we have deluded ourselves into thinking that if we don’t have an hour to workout, then we just can’t do it. Well that’s simply untrue. Even 10min of fitness counts and will contribute to your overall health. Do 20sec of work with 10sec of rest for multiple rounds of exercises. For example:
– 20 pushups/10 rest
– 20 squats/10 rest
– 20 alternating lunges/10 rest
– 20 plank hold/10 rest
Do this for 5 rounds

2. You need a ton of expensive equipment or a fancy gym to workout.
Again, as shown above in the simple workout, you don’t need much beyond your own body, some space and a good imagination. Using inexpensive items like mini bands, can provide a ton of exercises and they are portable!
Below is an example of a mini band workout:

(Reps of 8-15 for the following with bands around ankles:)
– walk laterally to the left and right
– walk forward and back
– stationary leg lifts
– plank position toe taps

(Reps of 8-15 for the following with bands around ankles:)
– squats
– hip bridges
– side lying clamshells

(Reps of 8-15 for the following with bands around wrists:)
– arm front raises

3. Make it a point to move every day.
Get up 10 minutes earlier and do your mini band exercises. If you sit at a desk for work, bring the mini bands to your office and take 5-10 minutes to do some band walking. Walk around your building every hour for 5-10 minutes. If you work from home, set a timer for the last 10minutes of each hour and do your exercises or get outside and walk.

4. Most importantly understand that every human needs to move at least for 30 minutes every day. It doesn’t have to be super high intensity exercise, it doesn’t have to involve complicated movements and it doesn’t have to be a class.

What you need to do is just make a commitment to yourself and honor that commitment.

In health and fitness friends!
Ali Winslow, MS
Certified Functional Strength Coach
NASM CPT

Ali Winslow Fitness Editor