Tips from fitness experts to get back into your fitness routine

It goes without saying that while Christmas is a joyous time with loved ones, it can be incredibly chaotic. As a result, many people lose their daily routine, with this exercise affecting them. Not to mention, the holiday season is filled with lots of food, which can make you feel guilty about not exercising – and it’s very difficult to get back into a fitness routine after a break.

Our experts at LivingBeter50 have highlighted five tips to get you back into shape after the Christmas season.

Plan your workouts

It’s natural to lose motivation after the Christmas break as you’ve adjusted to time away from the gym – but without planning your workout, this goes hand in hand with making excuses not to exercise.

Look at your weekly schedule in advance and add a seat to find out where you have the most free time. Doing this allows you to get into the right frame of mind ahead of time, while reducing the chance of telling yourself you’re too busy. Plus, many people will settle back into a work routine once they get back from the holidays, so having a workout schedule allows you to pick a time when your workload won’t take a toll.

Don’t push yourself too hard

Any other time of year, pushing yourself is encouraged when it comes to exercise. However, it makes sense not to overextend yourself after a break. Whether your workouts consist of cardio or weightlifting, overuse injuries such as muscle strains can occur if you exercise too much, which can only hinder your progress.

As you ease back into your workouts, remember to go slow and gradually increase the length and intensity of your sessions. It’s vital not to get discouraged if you can’t perform as well as you could before Christmas, as it won’t take long to see consistent improvements. Not to mention, taking it slow avoids feeling burned out from doing too much too quickly, which keeps you from giving up entirely.

Adapt your workouts to your lifestyle

Don’t forget that gyms are not required to stay fit and healthy. You can use different environments for exercise, which allow you to adapt them to your lifestyle and ensure that they are as enjoyable as possible.

There are various exercises that nature lovers can choose to do while embracing the outdoors, such as running, cycling and walking to name a few. Alternatively, if you enjoy a cozy atmosphere and want to exercise from your home, you can invest in equipment such as dumbbells and kettlebells if you want to build muscle. Or, for an intense cardio workout, simply grab an exercise mat, find a spacious area in your home, and watch a HIIT workout video on your phone or TV.

Find a workout partner

Having a friend who shares fitness goals similar to yours can provide motivation after periods of low physical activity. If you’ve already planned a workout with your partner, you’ll likely feel more compelled to avoid disappointing them, making it less likely that you’ll put it off for another day. In addition, they can push you even further, either by increasing the speed on the treadmill or by lifting more weight.

Another benefit of having a fitness partner is that they can keep you focused on your goals – they can spot when you’re going off track and notice the goals you’ve achieved to keep you determined. With the social side of working out, there’s a better chance you’ll look forward to it too.

Implement short-term goals

While long-term goals are important to help you decide exactly what exercises to do consistently, they can cause frustration when you don’t see progress as quickly as you’d hoped, which can even make you admit defeat. Unfortunately, this is especially easy when you’re trying to ease back into exercise.

Because of this, setting more achievable goals in shorter periods is essential to stay motivated to accomplish them. Additionally, implement non-appearance-based goals to help you track your progress, such as running a 5k faster or increasing your hip thrust load by 10 pounds in a month.

Breaking out of any kind of routine is always a challenge – but fitness is especially difficult, as it can be easy to make excuses and lose motivation.

It’s natural for physical activity to decrease over the Christmas holidays and it’s important not to feel guilty. Festivities only happen once a year, so make the most of them. by following these five steps, you’ll be back in your exercise routine and seeing progress in no time.

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