Staying Motivated During The Holiday Season

It’s not always easy to stay motivated and dedicated to your workout and dietary routine when the holidays roll around. Between entertaining friends and family, arranging out-of-state travel plans, finishing up holiday shopping and wrapping last-minute presents, there’s a lot going on and it’s understandable how some people fall off track and lose sight of their fitness goals. From that overwhelming desire to skip a workout to the tension your taste buds feel when a plate of chocolate chip cookies enter the room, temptations are abound! A few “cheats” are to be expected, and you shouldn’t punish yourself if you just couldn’t say no to a hot slice of grandma’s apple pie—the key is to not make your cheats a habit. For a more in-depth look at how to get motivated when you are stuck in a rut, pick up a copy of Jennifer Nicole Lee’s book, “When You Are Stuck In a Rut & Need a Motivational Kick In The Butt.” And while you are waiting for your copy to arrive, check out these tips for ways to stay motivated and inspired during the holidays!

Write down your goals.

Writing down your goals is a great way to stay motivated when you start to feel your drive dwindle. Make a list of your fitness goals and then write down how you are going to achieve those goals. Having things written on paper gives you the opportunity to go back later, recheck and remind yourself of your goals. If all of your goals are bopping around in your brain and you don’t write them down, you may forget why you initially set out on your fitness journey or how you are going to achieve your fitness goals. Whether you need to write down your exact workout schedule and dietary plan or you just need to jot down a few sentences that describe where you are now and where you hope to be in the future, getting things down on paper will help you stay motivated when you are feeling the urge to miss a few workouts.

Work out in the morning.

It’s easy to get caught up in your day, especially when you are surrounded with friends and family during the holidays. When you are out shopping or spending the day downtown with mom, it’s hard to pull yourself away to get to a workout. When you work out in the morning (preferably before everyone else is awake!) you won’t have to worry about skipping your workout later in the day when you get busy with holiday happenings. You also won’t have to worry about missing out on family fun because you need to leave the party the make time for your workout. Working out in the morning is also a great way to start your day—the instant boost of endorphins will have you feeling happy, awake and alert all day long! Even if you can only fit in a quick 20-minute workout before breakfast with friends, do it! Getting your heart rate up is a good thing no matter how long or short your workout is!

Train with a friend or family member.

When you train with a friend, you are recruiting backup that will help keep you accountable when you’re feeling lazy. Plus, working out with a friend is fun! You will find yourself looking forward to your workouts because you get to spend time with a loved one! Just make sure you are picking a buddy who will also stay motivated and who will encourage you to show up and work hard when you aren’t feeling inspired. If you enlist the help of a family member that you live with or even a roommate, they can also help keep you on track when it comes to sticking to your dietary plan. Don’t forget that you, too, will need to keep your buddy motivated—what a great opportunity to remind yourself how important it is to stay accountable and hold your friend accountable at the same time!

Continue to evaluate your progress.

Whether you are using a scale, tape measure or your own intuition to evaluate your progress, make sure you check in with yourself frequently during the holidays. If you find you are regressing, you will know that you have been a little too lax with your diet or workouts. Don’t beat yourself up, though! This just means you will have even more motivation to achieve your goals. Both progression and regression are to be expected during your journey to wellbeing and health, so cut yourself a little slack and use any setbacks as an opportunity to work harder and up your drive.

Treat yourself to new gear.

Sometimes, a new pair of tennis shoes or a new set of running pants will provide you with the little push you need to get off the couch and out the door. Maybe purchasing new gear isn’t in your budget, and that’s OK! Pull out some of the workout gear that has gotten pushed to the back of your closet—it will feel like a new purchase and you will be excited to get out and sport your new wardrobe! A little new gear will give you a fresh perspective on your workout!

Create a fitness tradition.

Around this time of year, there are so many holiday themed runs and opportunities to switch up your workout. From Turkey Trots to Santa Runs and more, use the holidays as a chance to rock a funky outfit while still upping your heart rate and breaking a sweat. Try to recruit a team to join you, too! It’s always more fun to run a 5k with an entire crew of people that are dressed like Santa. What a great opportunity to fit in a workout while having fun at the same time! Before you know it, you’ll be crossing the finish line and feeling the rush of positive emotions that accompany an awesome workout and the pride that comes with conquering a fun run.

Workout in front of the TV.

Working out in front on of the TV does not include engaging your abs to sit forward and reach for a handful of kettle corn. Whether you have your own fitness regiment planned out or you are streaming JNL’s workouts online, use a small block of time to fit a workout in while you are watching “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” for the fifth time. Even if you are watching with friends and family, no one is going to fault you for wanting to workout and hangout at the same time. If working out early in the morning isn’t something you are capable of (everyone loves sleeping in!), then take time throughout the day to fit in mini workouts. Go skiing, sledding, get into a snowball fight, walk through town or the mall—all are perfect opportunities to get your blood pumping without you even realizing it!

Tag up with Jennifer Nicole Lee.

If you are still having trouble getting motivated and can’t seem to get out of your rut, contact JNL today! Her inspirational story and fitness and lifestyle tips will start you moving in the right direction. If anyone understands the challenges people face when attempting to regain control of their health, it’s Jennifer Nicole Lee. JNL lost more than 80 pounds after the birth of her children and used her experience as an opportunity to help and encourage others to become their best selves, too! Whether you are looking for the best workout programs for women and men or are simply looking for the motivation that you are currently facing, JNL can help you overcome your struggles and get back on track with your health and fitness plan!