The holiday season often brings more comfort, hustle and bustle and with it our normal health habits can be lost. Even if sport has become the basis of well-being, maintaining a routine during the Christmas period, holidays or New Year holidays can become a real challenge. However, it is at this time that physical activity becomes even more important.
“Sport is not just a movement, it is an emotional anchor that helps maintain balance between the intense routine of life and peace, especially during holidays,” says Eglė, the owner of INHALE studio.
Why is it important to maintain a workout routine during the holiday season?
First of all, movement helps manage stress. Holidays are not only joy and rest, but also additional worries: gifts, meetings, preparation. Physical activity helps regulate cortisol levels and maintain emotional balance.
“Movement during the holiday season acts like a natural therapy: it helps you calm down, clear your mind and not get lost in the holiday hustle and bustle,” shares Eglė.Movement maintains energy and a sense of lightness. Heavier food, longer evenings and less fresh air can take a toll on the body. Light movement reminds the body of its normal rhythm, thus reducing lethargy, fatigue and maintaining a stable mood.
Stability in sport is part of feeling good. Habits are formed through consistency. When you lose consistency, especially for more than a week or two, it can sometimes be difficult to get back into a regular rhythm or take longer than expected.
“A sports routine is like a relationship with oneself: the more we cultivate it, the easier it will be to return and not deviate towards old ineffective life models,” says Eglė.
How to compensate for the absence of a sports gym when you are on vacation or the gym is closed?
Even if you don’t have the opportunity to visit INHALE or another studio, there are many alternative ways to stay active. The key is flexibility and less pressure on yourself.
1. Short but high-quality home rituals
10-20 minutes of body mobility exercises, stretching, breathing or pilates can make a big difference in how you feel that day.
2. Use your body weight
- Exercising without equipment is a great way to stay fit:
- slow squats,
- standing on the forearms (plank),
- spinal mobility exercises,
- full-body stretching sequence (flexion)
“You don’t need to use equipment or have a lot of space to exercise, the most important thing is to stay in touch with your body. Even a few quality exercises can make a huge difference on a day when the gym is far away or closed,” says Eglė.
3. Include active free time in your daily vacation plans
Longer walks outdoors
Take the stairs instead of the elevator
Cardio games with kids or family
Winter entertainment (sledging, skating, skiing)
4. Practice mindful breathing
Even 5 minutes of breathing – in the morning or in the evening – helps maintain psychological lightness and emotional balance.”Breath is always with us. It is the simplest, but also the most profound, tool that helps us take care of our well-being”, recalls Eglì.
Holidays are not a reason to stop, but an opportunity to discover a new relationship with movement. “The most important thing is not to put pressure on yourself. To find pleasure and tenderness in movement. After all, holidays are the time when it is worth taking care of yourself,” smiles Eglė.
Conlusion
The holiday season is often filled with celebration, gatherings, travel, and changes to our daily routines. While these moments can bring joy and relaxation, they can also disrupt the healthy habits we normally maintain throughout the year. Late nights, festive meals, and busy schedules often make it harder to keep up with regular exercise. As a result, many people temporarily set aside their fitness routines during Christmas, New Year, or other holiday periods.
However, maintaining physical activity during this time is actually more important than ever. The holiday season often includes richer foods, less sleep, and increased stress from social commitments or travel. Exercise can help balance these factors by supporting metabolism, improving mood, and helping the body manage the additional physical and emotional demands of the season. Even moderate physical activity can help maintain energy levels and prevent the feeling of sluggishness that sometimes follows days of celebration.
Another benefit of staying active during the holidays is its positive effect on mental well-being. The end of the year can be both exciting and emotionally intense. While some people enjoy the festive atmosphere, others may feel pressure from expectations, social obligations, or personal reflections about the year that has passed. Exercise acts as a natural stress reliever, helping clear the mind and create moments of calm amid the busy holiday schedule.
Maintaining a fitness routine during the holidays does not necessarily require long or intense workouts. Short training sessions, outdoor walks, light strength exercises, or even playful activities with friends and family can help keep the body moving. The goal during this period is not perfection but consistency. Even small amounts of activity can help preserve healthy habits and make it easier to return to a regular routine once the holiday season ends.
It is also helpful to adopt a flexible mindset. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, and exercise should support that enjoyment rather than become an additional source of pressure. By adapting workouts to available time and energy levels, individuals can stay active without sacrificing the joy and relaxation that the festive period offers.
In conclusion, while the holiday season may disrupt normal routines, it also presents an opportunity to maintain balance through physical activity. Staying active helps support physical health, manage stress, and preserve energy during a time when habits can easily shift. By embracing flexibility and keeping movement as part of the celebration, individuals can enjoy the holidays while continuing to care for their well-being.
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