The holiday season is officially here.
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, and from now until New Year’s, life tends to get a little chaotic—travel, family gatherings, holiday parties, cold weather, endless cookies and casseroles…
It’s a fun time of year.
It’s also a time when a lot of people start to panic about falling “off track.”
Here’s what I want you to hear clearly:
The whole point of staying active and eating well is to actually enjoy your life.
Yes, it’s great to feel strong, energized, and capable. But you’re not training to become a robot. You’re not eating well so you can say “no” to pumpkin pie forever.
You’re doing it so you can move through your life with confidence, ease, and joy.
So please — eat the pumpkin pie. Eat the cookie. Enjoy the special foods that only come around once a year. And make it guilt-free.
And while you’re doing that, here are some simple strategies to help you stay active, feel good in your body, and keep your momentum going through the holiday season — without dieting, punishing yourself, or missing out on any of the joy.
1. Don’t “start over in January” — keep a gentle rhythm instead
The biggest mistake people make this time of year?
They give up completely.
“I’ll get back to it in January.”
“I’ll just let myself go now and fix it later.”
That approach never works. And it leaves you feeling sluggish, mentally off, and physically drained.
Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for consistency:
- Move your body every day (even 10–12 minutes counts).
- Eat mostly well—with plenty of flexibility.
- Rest when you need it.
- Enjoy the foods you love without spiraling into guilt.
Small-but-steady effort beats an on/off holiday switch every time.
2. Plan your day like an athlete — especially on big eating days
If you know you’re having a big Thanksgiving meal (or Christmas dinner or a holiday party with a dessert table you know you’re not avoiding), set up the rest of your day in a way that helps you feel good:
Eat a balanced breakfast
Protein + carbs + healthy fat.
Skipping meals to “save calories” backfires every time — you end up ravenous and overdo it.
Eat a nutrient-dense lunch
Think: veggies, lean protein, slow carbs.
The goal isn’t restriction — it’s giving your body what it needs so you don’t show up starving.
Hydrate throughout the day
Dehydration is sneaky this time of year.
You’ll enjoy your holiday foods way more when your blood sugar and energy aren’t crashing all over the place.
3. Go for a walk after big meals
This is one of the simplest, highest-impact habits you can build during the holidays.
A 10–20 minute walk after a big meal:
- Improves blood sugar
- Reduces bloating
- Helps digestion
- Boosts mood
- Gets you off the couch and into fresh air
- Feels amazing
You can recruit the entire family, suggest a “holiday walk,” or sneak out solo for a few minutes of quiet.
If I could recommend one must-do holiday habit, this is it.
4. Do something active every day (even if it’s tiny)
You do not need an hour-long workout this time of year.
You don’t even need 30 minutes.
But you do need something to keep your body humming and your mood stable.
Ideas that take 5–15 minutes:
- A quick 12-minute HIIT session
- A walk around the neighborhood
- 3 rounds of bodyweight strength: push-ups, squats, planks, stretching or mobility
- A few hill sprints if you’re feeling spicy
- Practicing handstands or a fun skill
Small movement = big returns.
This is especially true this time of year, when stress, family dynamics, sugar, and travel can wreak havoc on your nervous system.
Movement is medicine.
5. Schedule your workouts before the day gets away from you
Holiday days get busy fast.
Suddenly it’s 3pm, and you’re elbow-deep in mashed potatoes or heading to a party and realize you missed your workout window.
Here’s my favorite go-to fix: Schedule movement early, and schedule it first.
And actually put it on your calendar. Treat it like any important appointment.
If you’re traveling, have 2–3 no-equipment workouts on hand.
If you have kids or are hosting, do your 12MA workout before everyone wakes up. Once you’re in the flow of the day, you’re not getting that time back.
So front-load the habit.
6. Make movement a family activity (yes, really!)
You might be surprised how many people will say yes to something active if you propose it.
Try:
- A family morning walk before breakfast
- A push-up or squat challenge
- A living-room workout (kids love these!)
- A post-meal stroll
- Touch football or soccer at the park (just make sure everyone warms up first!)
- “Let’s all stretch for 10 minutes”
It doesn’t have to be intense.
It’s about getting everyone’s bodies moving, having fun, and building connection. And honestly… it takes the pressure off YOU to be the only one trying to stay on track.
7. Drop the guilt — it serves absolutely no purpose
Holiday guilt is everywhere.
People shame themselves for eating too much, skipping a workout, or “being bad.”
Please hear this: Guilt never makes you healthier. It only creates anxiety, emotional spirals, and all-or-nothing thinking.
Enjoy your meals. Enjoy the treats. Enjoy the people you love.
Then wake up the next day, hydrate, move your body, and get back to your normal rhythm.
That’s health. That’s balance. That’s what actually works long-term.
You Can Enjoy Yourself AND Stay Active
The holidays don’t need to derail your fitness — and they definitely don’t need to be filled with guilt or stress.
You can enjoy the pies, the cookies, the casseroles, the cocktails… and stay active, energized, and grounded.
You just need simple habits, small daily movement, and the ability to zoom out: Fitness is a lifelong practice.
You’re not going to lose your progress in a week or two. So give yourself some grace — and enjoy the season. You’ve earned it.
