Holidays involve celebrations, trips, and countless tasks, but keeping active should not add extra stress. Ten joyful minutes before enjoying cocoa or ten minutes after wrapping gifts can help. Brief, gentle workouts support joint-friendly strength and keep your routine consistent, helping you stay active even when the season gets hectic.
In this blog, you will find a simple goal ladder, a pick-your-time movement menu (5, 10, or 15 minutes), travel-proof walks and room-friendly flows, a flexible two-week calendar, and tiny friction fixes to make starting easier. Optional form-guided squats with The DB Method help you keep reps joint-friendly and consistent. This is about movement you can actually stick with and enjoy.
The December Goal Ladder (Good/Better/Best)
Keep your holiday fitness goals simple and realistic with a tiered approach.
- Good: Move at least three days a week. Any length counts.
- Better: Shoot for about 10 minutes most days. It could be a quick walk, a gentle strength session, or a little flow. Even these short, consistent bursts add up and help you actually keep moving.
- Best: Stick to your usual routine but dial the intensity back a bit. Choose moves without jumping, use a slower tempo, or add a few extra glute-focused holds. It keeps you active without wearing yourself out.
Forget perfection. Track minutes moved or sessions completed, not how “perfect” each workout feels. The DB Method offers quick, low-impact sessions that are easy to repeat anywhere, making it easier to follow your realistic holiday workout plan and actually stay active during the holidays.
Workouts You Can Do Anywhere (Pick Any One)
Holiday days can shift from calm to busy in a heartbeat. Having quick movement options ready keeps you steady without adding pressure.
5 Minutes: “Rescue” Reset
March in place for sixty seconds, then perform squats for an equal amount of time, followed by holding a bridge position, an isometric hip hinge, and roughly 75 seconds of gentle breathing. This brief session effectively increases energy and reduces stress. It is ideal for fitting in between tasks or while wrapping presents.
10 Minutes: “Glute-First Calm Strength.”
Try 10 slow sit-to-stands (think 3 down, pause, up), then 10 hip hinges, 12 glute bridges with a 1-second squeeze at the top, and 12 side lying leg lifts per side. Finish with a minute of quiet breathing so your system settles. It is low impact, very glute-friendly, and feels like the kind of quick reset you can fit into a holiday day without it feeling like a workout.
15 Minutes: “Room-Friendly Flow.”
Start by marching in place and easing through gentle hip circles for about a minute and a half. Then move into 8 bird-dogs and 8 gentle reverse step-backs on each side. Wrap it up with a wall sit for 45-60 seconds and a quick figure-4 stretch. Simple, easy, and doable even on a busy holiday day.
These three options give you a way to stay active without rearranging your whole day. Choose the one that fits and let it count.
Travel & Social Switches (Walk, Stack, Sneak)
Seek moments for walking. Take several laps inside the airport or a quick 10-minute walk around your local area after a meal. Each effort adds up.
Incorporate activity into your holiday rituals. Enjoy a walk as the tree lights twinkle, fit in some stretching while wrapping presents, or turn family picture moments into a brief walk. Scheduling movement during festivities is a method to remain active.
If you happen to be in a hotel or guest room, give the 10-minute "Calm Strength" routine a go. No equipment, no jumping involved, and gentle joint safe exercises.
Think of it like this: keeping your weight steady over the holidays is not about strict rules or perfection. Moving a little each day and checking in with yourself here and there actually works better. Just showing up consistently without stressing keeps you in rhythm through all the chaos of the season.
Two-Week “Keep-Going” Calendar (Repeat as Needed)
A simple rhythm can make the holidays feel steadier. This two-week plan gives you structure without crowding your day.
Week-1 Calender
Monday kicks off with 10 minutes of Calm Strength to get moving. Tuesday, do a 5-minute Rescue set and maybe a short evening walk. On Wednesday, take 15 minutes to flow. Stretch, move, and breathe. Thursday, another Calm Strength session keeps the streak alive. Friday, even a quick 10-15 minute walk counts. Saturday, fit in a Rescue set and a light stroll. Sunday is yours, repeat a favorite session, or just move however you want.
Week-2 Calender
Start Monday with Calm Strength to set the tone. Tuesday, take a couple of short walks, even 7-8 minutes each, wherever you are. Wednesday, try the Room-Friendly Flow to loosen up. Thursday, do a Rescue set and add a quick wall sit if it fits your day. Friday, stick to Calm Strength. Saturday, sneak in some stairs or hallway loops for 10-15 minutes. Sunday, slow it down with a gentle stretch and a short walk, easy does it.
The point is not perfection. It is keeping your body moving in little ways that fit your life. Even a few minutes here and there add up and help you feel better through all the holiday chaos.
The DB Method Layer for Easy Consistency
Make wrapping up “today’s ten” easy and stress-free. Choose a glute-first, low-impact setup that helps you move with good posture, fits neatly in a small space, and takes only a few minutes to get going.
The DB Method Squat Machine does exactly that. It guides your load to the glutes, folds flat for easy storage, and comes with trainer-led sessions with The DB Method on the Playbook app that you can follow in around ten minutes. It is a simple way to keep your holiday movement consistent without overthinking it.
Feel strong, supported, and consistent this season with The DB Method Squat Machine.
