Talking to friends and clients over the last 10 years has taught me a lot about how people view their exercise through December and January.
It's a particularly tough time for many people so I've written this post to help others understand why some struggle and others thrive.
I'll also discuss how you can set yourself up for daily exercise, without sacrificing quality social time.
The Different Mind Sets
For many people, who I've talked to, the festive season is the absolute hardest time of the year to work out. Routines become disturbed by holidays, discipline is tested by Christmas gatherings and many of the organised trainings and competitions take a break.
For others it's an annual opportunity to train without having to fit it into a pre-arranged time slot such as before the birds wake up, the working lunch break or after a full day at the office.
These people love the opportunity to spend more time with friends and family but also love being able to schedule a longer workout between a backyard cricket match and the family lunch.
1. "I'll get back into it in the New Year"
When asked to attend a staff function, some of my clients see it as a great opportunity to let the hair down and if it means having to miss a workout then so be it. Regardless of how many functions they're invited to, they are special occasions and any loss of health or fitness through this period is simply what happens during the festive season.
Many people actually figure they're going to make the most of Christmas by eating all of their favourite unhealthy foods, drinking till late and putting a hold on their exercise. They've been sacrificing all of these behaviours since last January and they're not going to get do so again for another 10-11months.
This mind set is a sure sign of someone who has not actually embraced the concept of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. They put weight on each Christmas and struggle to lose it in the months between. They hate coming back to work in the new year and hate coming back to exercise even more.
2. "I'm Just Too Busy"
Some of the reasons I hear for not exercising during the festive season are actually very similar to those I hear from people who can't fit exercise into their working week.
They refuse to prioritise the time over other important tasks and will not put this very personal need over the needs of others who may not understand.
Many people just aren't used to putting themselves first, so spend all holiday running the kids around and cooking meals for others. They may have tried and given up asking for help, but figured the job will get done faster if they do it themselves.
Christmas is a time for giving so why not give your body the attention it deserves?
3. "Yahooooo, it's Christmas!"
The clients who I find come back to work feeling the best about their holidays are those who:
I can't think of a better way to enjoy your kids than while exercising with them. Contrast this with having a hangover as you try to enjoy the summer sun and active kids who would give anything to have you join them.
How to Thrive through Christmas!
If you'd like to truly enjoy your holiday then that good feeling needs to last beyond the Festive Season. If you spend half of your time racing around trying to get everything done, or recovering from the previous night's excesses then you're not going to look back on your time so fondly.
Here are some big things you need to setup if you'd like to be able to look back on a Great Festive Season:
1. Build a Team Environment
You'll be surprised how well people will grow to enjoy helping around the house if they notice the positive effect it has on you. If you can catch up and bond with friends and family while they help clean the kitchen or cook then they're more likely to do it without being asked later on.
This will free up time for activities which everyone can enjoy such as Back Yard Cricket, Scrabble or Sing Star! Setting out a couple of teams such as Boys and Girls, Old and Young or Tall and Short can add some ongoing, friendly competition which encourages banter and a great atmosphere around the house.
2. Promote your Daily Exercise Time
Once you've got everyone in a mood of sharing and caring, it's time to let people know when you're going to be out training. You may get some funny looks at first but each time you return, positively glowing from a workout, they'll accept it and hopefully get in behind you.
Whether you go off for a jog, a swim at the beach or a game of tennis, this is something you need to be proud of and committed to doing each and every day. You don't need to train hard each time you go out, in fact, you should either make every day a light session or alternate between easy and hard.
Every day seems like a big deal, but it's not. This is not just your time to exercise, it's your time to do get away and think about how you're going to make this day a joy for everyone you see. Doing it every day removes the question of when and whether you're training and it's the perfect excuse for going to bed at a reasonable hour.
Few people have the opportunity to book out a slot for themselves every day during the working week, but over the festive season you'll actually find people congratulating you for your commitment.
3. Settle for a Great Time
For most of us, the middle of the day is for kids, the afternoon is for family and the evening is for fun. This means your best opportunity for a daily workout is probably in the morning. One of the biggest killers of this morning workout is a late night of excesses.
If you find it hard to resist the urge to enjoy your food, drink and company into the early hours of the next day then this may just be where you're doing the most harm to your holiday experience.
There's nothing wrong with having a few drinks after dinner, but there comes a time when you're either going to:
or
Sorry if this Upsets You
What you've just read will either make perfect sense or annoy you to no end.
Many people see the festive season as their reward for sacrificing over-indulgence all year so will only consider my suggestions when their doctor warns them to.
The people I most want reading this are those who want to get fitter and feeling better about themselves at the end of their holiday. If this post did make perfect sense and you think others could benefit from reading it then please forward the link on to a friend.
So what do you think?
Is any of this achievable?
I'd love to hear how you're planning to actually improve the quality of this festive season for yourself, your friends and family.
Feel free to come back and tell me how it all went.
 |
| So this is Christmas |
I'll also discuss how you can set yourself up for daily exercise, without sacrificing quality social time.
The Different Mind Sets
For many people, who I've talked to, the festive season is the absolute hardest time of the year to work out. Routines become disturbed by holidays, discipline is tested by Christmas gatherings and many of the organised trainings and competitions take a break.
For others it's an annual opportunity to train without having to fit it into a pre-arranged time slot such as before the birds wake up, the working lunch break or after a full day at the office.
These people love the opportunity to spend more time with friends and family but also love being able to schedule a longer workout between a backyard cricket match and the family lunch.
 |
| Fun Time with the Family |
When asked to attend a staff function, some of my clients see it as a great opportunity to let the hair down and if it means having to miss a workout then so be it. Regardless of how many functions they're invited to, they are special occasions and any loss of health or fitness through this period is simply what happens during the festive season.
Many people actually figure they're going to make the most of Christmas by eating all of their favourite unhealthy foods, drinking till late and putting a hold on their exercise. They've been sacrificing all of these behaviours since last January and they're not going to get do so again for another 10-11months.
This mind set is a sure sign of someone who has not actually embraced the concept of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. They put weight on each Christmas and struggle to lose it in the months between. They hate coming back to work in the new year and hate coming back to exercise even more.
 |
| Don't make exercise harder than it needs to be |
2. "I'm Just Too Busy"
Some of the reasons I hear for not exercising during the festive season are actually very similar to those I hear from people who can't fit exercise into their working week.
They refuse to prioritise the time over other important tasks and will not put this very personal need over the needs of others who may not understand.
Many people just aren't used to putting themselves first, so spend all holiday running the kids around and cooking meals for others. They may have tried and given up asking for help, but figured the job will get done faster if they do it themselves.
Christmas is a time for giving so why not give your body the attention it deserves?
3. "Yahooooo, it's Christmas!"
The clients who I find come back to work feeling the best about their holidays are those who:
- took their training to another level
- attended and enjoyed various social functions without eating or drinking to excess
- spent plenty of quality time with their family
I can't think of a better way to enjoy your kids than while exercising with them. Contrast this with having a hangover as you try to enjoy the summer sun and active kids who would give anything to have you join them.
 |
| Get up for the Sun rise this Festive Season! |
How to Thrive through Christmas!
If you'd like to truly enjoy your holiday then that good feeling needs to last beyond the Festive Season. If you spend half of your time racing around trying to get everything done, or recovering from the previous night's excesses then you're not going to look back on your time so fondly.
Here are some big things you need to setup if you'd like to be able to look back on a Great Festive Season:
1. Build a Team Environment
You'll be surprised how well people will grow to enjoy helping around the house if they notice the positive effect it has on you. If you can catch up and bond with friends and family while they help clean the kitchen or cook then they're more likely to do it without being asked later on.
This will free up time for activities which everyone can enjoy such as Back Yard Cricket, Scrabble or Sing Star! Setting out a couple of teams such as Boys and Girls, Old and Young or Tall and Short can add some ongoing, friendly competition which encourages banter and a great atmosphere around the house.
 |
| Tug of War is a Great way to bring people together |
2. Promote your Daily Exercise Time
Once you've got everyone in a mood of sharing and caring, it's time to let people know when you're going to be out training. You may get some funny looks at first but each time you return, positively glowing from a workout, they'll accept it and hopefully get in behind you.
Whether you go off for a jog, a swim at the beach or a game of tennis, this is something you need to be proud of and committed to doing each and every day. You don't need to train hard each time you go out, in fact, you should either make every day a light session or alternate between easy and hard.
Every day seems like a big deal, but it's not. This is not just your time to exercise, it's your time to do get away and think about how you're going to make this day a joy for everyone you see. Doing it every day removes the question of when and whether you're training and it's the perfect excuse for going to bed at a reasonable hour.
 |
| Go and explore the neighborhood! |
Few people have the opportunity to book out a slot for themselves every day during the working week, but over the festive season you'll actually find people congratulating you for your commitment.
3. Settle for a Great Time
For most of us, the middle of the day is for kids, the afternoon is for family and the evening is for fun. This means your best opportunity for a daily workout is probably in the morning. One of the biggest killers of this morning workout is a late night of excesses.
If you find it hard to resist the urge to enjoy your food, drink and company into the early hours of the next day then this may just be where you're doing the most harm to your holiday experience.
There's nothing wrong with having a few drinks after dinner, but there comes a time when you're either going to:
- turn in with a glass of water, excited about your early morning workout
 |
| Party hard, but not too late! |
- grab another drink, a handful of crisps and destroy any hope of waking in time to enjoy your Daily Exercise Time
 |
| Getting back on the Scales should be Fun! |
What you've just read will either make perfect sense or annoy you to no end.
Many people see the festive season as their reward for sacrificing over-indulgence all year so will only consider my suggestions when their doctor warns them to.
The people I most want reading this are those who want to get fitter and feeling better about themselves at the end of their holiday. If this post did make perfect sense and you think others could benefit from reading it then please forward the link on to a friend.
So what do you think?
Is any of this achievable?
I'd love to hear how you're planning to actually improve the quality of this festive season for yourself, your friends and family.
Feel free to come back and tell me how it all went.
Merry Christmas!!!
