News — As the year closes, a physical activity specialist says it’s important to continue to make exercise a priority even at a time of year when many people are busy with holiday activities and family gatherings.
, a specialist with the , offers tips on finding time and motivation to stay active during the holidays — whether you’re traveling to see loved ones or hosting a fun family event at home.
And, for those weighing resolutions for 2025, Abildso recommends being realistic by making small, sustainable changes to daily routines.
Quotes:
“Write yourself into the schedule. Routine helps to keep us active, but routines are difficult to maintain when our lives get busy. So, make a schedule of all your holiday parties and family gatherings, and be sure to include time specifically set aside for yourself.
“Staying active while traveling is also difficult, but a little planning will make it easier. Before leaving home, look up a map of your destination to identify good places to exercise — like parks and quiet neighborhood streets.
“Bad weather is a challenge when you’re trying to keep moving in the wintertime. But there are lots of ways to stay active indoors. You don’t need a lot of space. YouTube and other online sources have lots of yoga and strength training routines. Even going up and down the stairs in your house is a good way to get your heart pumping.
“Motivation can be hard to find during the holidays and winter months. Look for ways to make physical activity something you look forward to, like making a special playlist you only listen to while being active.
“There is never a perfect moment or a silver bullet. If you want to improve your health through physical activity, it’s important to be honest with yourself and figure out what’s going to get in your way.
"If your evenings are busy but you also hate getting up at 5 a.m., it might not be the wisest thing to say, ‘I'm going to get up at 5 a.m., no matter what.’ The ‘no matter what’ part is going to get in your way. Instead, find opportunities to move throughout the day, even if it’s just for 10 minutes at a time.
“To stay motivated, focus on the immediate benefits of physical activity rather than the numbers on a scale or blood sugar monitor. Even if those immediate results are as simple as ‘I feel proud for taking 15 minutes to be good to myself.’
“It’s movement that matters. Move instead of sitting, that’s the first step. Those small changes have a compounding effect. Over time, your body gets stronger.” — Christiaan Abildso, Extension Specialist for Physical Activity, WVU Extension
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