We all know the feeling. It’s those random days between Christmas and New Year, you don’t know what day of the week it is, the kids are watching Frozen for the third time today and you’re surrounded by empty sweet wrappers, how can you find the motivation to get moving?
Okay, so we know that not everyone is super keen on getting the gym gear out during the festive season, but it’s always good to get your body moving again before the post-Christmas return to work. So, if you’re looking for some low maintenance ways to get going, look no further than our 5 easy tips!
Go for a winter walk
You can always start small with a quick 10-minute walk around the block to get back into moving- especially if you’re feeling a little stiff! Over time, you can build up to do longer walks and get those 10,000 steps in.
Walking is a low impact gateway to more strenuous exercise which makes it great for anyone who’s a little nervous about getting started with their own fitness journey. According to the NHS, just 10 minutes of brisk walking a day is enough to contribute towards your recommended 150 minutes of exercise a week (1).
Hit the Sales
What better way to get those steps in that hitting the Boxing Day sales? Pick yourself up from the sofa and get ready to get some bargains and discounts all while getting your body going again! Better still, if you pick up plenty of bargains, you’ll be adding a weight resistance to your arms- perfect for burning off those mince pies and getting your body back in business.
Keep the party going
December is a month of partying, dancing and festive fun, who said it needs to stop after the 25th? Instead of hanging up the dancing shoes, keep the party alive and dance your way through until January.
Regular dancing is a fun way to get fit without becoming a chore. Better yet, it comes with plenty of fitness benefits, including:
Improved stamina
Strengthened muscles
Better posture
Weight loss
Beating stress (2)
If you have space in your home, pop on your favourite playlist and have a boogie! Don’t know which moves to make? That’s okay, there are plenty of free classes available on YouTube which are easy to follow and will still get your blood pumping.
If you’re a little limited for space in your home, there are plenty of classes available to join in your local area. Dance Near You is an easy-to-follow database which offers over 1000 different classes across the UK, find yours here.
Start the Festive Clean Up
Believe it or not, but housework actually counts as exercise! Not only is a festive clean up a fab way to get ahead with your chores, but you’re also doing your body a favour too.
Whether you’re cleaning pre-Christmas in time for Santa’s arrival or you’re dealing with the post-Christmas chaos, this is a great way to get your house and body in shape! So, crank up your favourite festive tunes, whip out the hoover and get started.
Intrigued by how your housework can help get you in shape? Check out our blog below to see how you can burn more calories than a 5k run just by giving your house a quick clean:
Use your sofa as a gym
Did you know that you can exercise from the comfort of your own sofa? There are plenty of simple, low impact exercises that work perfectly with the height of a sofa, so you can get your body moving without even needing to leave the house, how great is that?
Want to try them out? Check out our sofa workout routine below:
Warm Up:
Step Ups
Stand up from the sofa
Stand on the sofa, leading with your stronger foot
Carefully step down from the sofa
Repeat at your own pace for 30 seconds
Core:
Couch bike
Sit back on the sofa
Raise your legs to hip height or as near as you can raise them
Peddle your legs in mid-air as if riding a bike
Repeat for 30 seconds
Side plank
Prop yourself up sideways on the sofa using your arm
Extend your legs out to the side of the sofa so they’re resting on the floor
Hold your hips up in the position
Stay for 30 seconds then repeat on the other side
Legs:
Leg stretch and lunge
Stand up from the sofa
Put one foot in front of the other and bend your knee
Prop the other foot on the sofa so it’s at a right angle
Bend and rise for 15 reps
Switch to the other leg
Arms:
Couch Dips
Sit on the edge of the sofa
Put your legs in front of you, bending them slightly
Place your arms firmly at your side with your thumbs facing inwards
Lower yourself off the sofa, as low as you can
Rise back up
Repeat for 15 reps
Push Ups
Stand up at the back of the sofa
Move back two steps
Lean forward while keeping your legs stretched and place your hands on the sofa at shoulder width apart
Press down and rise back up
Repeat for 15 reps
We’d love to find out more about how you’ll be staying motivated during the Christmas season! Get in touch by tagging us in all your festive fun on our Instagram or Facebook or join the rest of our community in the Facebook Closed Group.
