It can be difficult to find the motivation to keep moving during the winter, and especially over Christmas, when life gets busy with festive parties and preparations.
But Christmas shenanigans don’t mean that exercise has to go out of the window completely. In fact, keeping active could help keep your stress levels under control at this busy time of year.
If you’re pushed for time, here are 12 easy ways to stay active this Christmas.
1. Wrap up and go for a walk with the family
Not only does exercising in green spaces help improve your mood, the colder temperatures mean you’ll burn extra calories keeping warm.
2. Take advantage of the season
Lots of fun winter activities pop up over the festive season, so why not take the family ice skating or improve your step count up by walking round the Christmas markets?
3. Wear your pedometer shopping
You’ll be surprised how many steps you rack up in a few hours of Christmas shopping. If you’re a member, remember to sync your fitness device to the WeightWatchers app to track your steps.
4. Have a boogie while wrapping
Got a lot of gifts to wrap this Christmas? Turn a chore into a fun workout by cranking up the volume on your favourite tunes and having a wiggle while you wrap.
5. Try these quick home workouts
They’re easy to sneak into your everyday routine, even if you have a million things to do!
6. Take housework to the next level
Are you hosting Christmas this year? Dusting, cleaning and vacuuming work your muscles and can help you towards your fitness goals.
7. Play the postman
If you write Christmas cards for nearby friends and relatives, why not deliver them by hand this year instead of popping them in the post? It's also a great way to save on stamps.
8. Choose HIIT training
Got 15 minutes to spare? High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, is a short burst of intense exercise. It’s an efficient calorie burner and easy to squeeze into your routine.
9. Park further away
Whether you’re driving to work or into town for a spot of shopping, try parking further away than usual to boost your step count for the day.
10. Take to the stairs
Busy shopping centres may mean you have to park on the top level of the car park. Take advantage of the opportunity to fit in some easy exercise!
11. Dig out the Wii Fit
Christmas is about being with family, so why not make fitness a family affair and enjoy an indoor exercise session on a games console?
12. Get ad break active
Enjoy Christmas TV marathons by using the ad breaks to squat, do star jumps or march on the spot – anything that gets you moving.