December is magical and also a little chaotic. Between travel, celebrations, and “just five more cookies,” finding time for a holiday workout at home can feel almost impossible. But here’s the surprising part: even ten minutes, like ten minutes before cocoa or ten minutes before bed, can keep your body happy and your routine steady.
When December gets packed, it’s the little bits of movement that count. Even a few minutes of something easy keeps you going through the holidays without the stress. Just a simple, joyful movement you can actually stick to all month long.
In this blog, we will show you how to turn December into your easiest, most joyful movement month yet, with quick, feel-good workouts you can do anywhere.
What Success Looks Like in December (Reset the Target)
December isn’t the time to go after personal records. December is all about keeping your baseline going. With travel, parties, and all that holiday chaos, success simply means keeping a steady rhythm rather than trying to do more than you can.
During busy weeks, it’s better to adjust your routine than stop altogether. So we don’t need to worry about being perfect. Instead, we can aim for something doable, like three short sessions a week. That’s enough to keep us moving, feeling steady, and feeling like ourselves.
And yes, short workouts absolutely count. Even 10-minute circuits, including bodyweight moves, low-impact strength, and quick cardio bursts, are more than enough to stay active during the holidays.
Build Your Festive Workout Routine (Pick What Fits Today)
A good festive workout routine doesn’t lock you into one plan. It gives you options. The energy shifts every hour in December, so consider this a small selection, one you can pick from based on your day's schedule. We can use these options to build an ideal holiday exercise routine at home.
Option A: Cozy Low-Impact Flow (10 min)
Start with a minute of easy marching to warm up. Then move into slow sit-back squats or chair taps. Drop down for a round of glute bridges, squeezing at the top. Stand up for some simple calf raises, and finish with a wall sit or a supported squat hold for about a minute.
Option B: Strength Snack (12–15 min)
For the first block, start with a simple hip-hinge drill for two sets of ten, followed by a steady bridge hold that lasts about 30-45 seconds. After that, move into the second block, choosing step-ups or split-stance chair taps for two sets of 8-10 per side, finishing with side-lying abductions for two sets of twelve on each side.
Option C: “12 Days” Holiday Ladder (10–12 min)
Pick 6 simple moves (squats, hinges, bridges, side steps, bird dogs, calf raises). Do 1 round, then 2, then 3… up to 6, adding one rep or set each “day.” It’s fun and quick.
This little routine works because it’s simple, doable, and short enough that we’ll actually finish it. That’s the whole point.
December Workout Calendar (4 Weeks You Can Stick To)
Amid the office celebrations, family gatherings, and trips, our aim for December is simple. We want to stay active during the holidays without adding extra stress. Here’s a relaxed, four-week holiday schedule that fits into real life. Nothing intense and nothing that makes you feel pressured, just enough to keep you feeling good as you enjoy the season.
- Week 1 (Dec 1–7): Aim for two Cozy Low-Impact sessions and one Strength Snack that we discussed above. If you happen to get a burst of energy, you can add a quick 10-minute walk. If not, that is completely fine because December has its own rhythm.
- Week 2 (Dec 8–14): You can do one of each session from A, B, and C. If you have back-to-back social nights, we can swap a session for a short mobility moment, such as cat-cow, a hip-flexor stretch, or a figure-4. That is more than enough.
- Week 3 (Dec 15–21): Two Strength Snacks and one Cozy Flow work well this week. You can keep the holds around 45-60 seconds and call it a day. If we are traveling, a short routine of glute bridges and sit-back squats before bed still keeps us moving.
- Week 4 (Dec 22–28): One “12 Days” Ladder and two Cozy Flows are perfect for this week. Christmas Day can be optional. A gentle stretch or simple walk works just as well.
- New Year’s Eve: You can start with a 10-minute Cozy Flow and finish with a light stretch to close out the year.
Keep it doable, fun, and consistent. This is the kind of calendar you can actually stick to.
Travel-Proof & Guest-Room Edits (Tiny Spaces, Zero Gear)
Even during holiday travel, you can still sneak in a quick holiday workout, even without equipment. Simple bodyweight moves such as squats, assisted squats, hinges, glute bridges, step-ups, bird dogs, and calf raises are reliable choices for effective at-home training.
Try a short 8-minute session in a hotel or guest room by completing two rounds of ten hinges, twelve bridges, ten chair or bed taps, and fifteen calf raises.
If your energy feels low, we can simply focus on the first five minutes. It is always better to move a little than not at all. Even a tiny session keeps our baseline going.
Festive Finishers (Optional, 60–90 Seconds)
Add a little holiday flair to your festive workout routine with a few quick finishers. Each one takes only a minute or so, which makes them fun, light, and easy to blend into any session.
- Holiday Lights Hold: Lower into a supported squat for 30-45 seconds and follow it with ten slow pulses, imagining that you are gently holding your favorite holiday lights.
- Gift Carry Core: Move into a split stance and press your hands forward while keeping your palms together for thirty seconds on each side, as if we were carrying a heavy holiday gift and keeping our core steady.
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Sleigh Steps: Step side to side on a low stair for eight slow and deliberate repetitions on each leg.
These small themed moves bring a playful touch to the season and offer short bursts of activity that keep us engaged without pushing too hard.
Make It Stick: Holiday Fitness Tips That Really Help
Keeping consistent is easier when you treat your holiday fitness tips like a real plan instead of a vague wish. You can block out 10-20 minutes on our calendar and aim for slightly fewer days than usual. Realistic goals help us stay consistent.
You can anchor sessions to simple daily cues. For example, after your morning coffee, you can move through a Cozy Flow, and when you return from errands, a Strength Snack fits in easily. On packed days, even 10 minutes of Option A still counts.
Track your progress with a simple “done list,” focusing on minutes moved instead of calories burned. You can also keep up with the simple things you already do, such as parking a little farther away or taking an evening walk to look at holiday lights with family. Small steps build up and help us stay active during the holidays without stress.
The DB Method Way: Quick, Glute-First Workouts That Feel Good Tomorrow
When December gets busy, a holiday or Christmas workout at home does not need to take over your day. The DB Method focuses on 10-minute, low-impact, glute-first sessions that you can repeat daily, perfect for tight schedules and for joints that feel better with lower impact.
The Squat Machine shifts the load into your glutes, folds flat for easy storage, and works smoothly with trainer-led programs on The DB Method on the Playbook app to keep us moving.
Fit it into our day wherever it makes sense. Even two sets of ten assisted squats from Option A or B help us dial in posture and depth. And if the day feels hectic, one simple 10-minute guided class still counts. The trick is to keep it short and consistent. That is what helps December workouts stick, and we feel the benefits in all the right ways the next day.
Wrap the Year Strong
This December, focus on showing up rather than being perfect. Even 10-20 minutes on most days count when you choose moves that feel good and are easy for you to repeat. We can keep things joint-friendly by choosing a holiday workout at home that stays glute-first and removes the guesswork. Short, guided sessions on a machine designed to help us feel our glutes each time make it simple to stay consistent.
The DB Method Squat Machine is glute-focused, low-impact, folds flat for easy storage, and pairs with trainer-led programs on The DB Method on the Playbook app to keep your December workouts simple, effective, and enjoyable.
Feel the difference with a glute-first workout that fits your routine. Discover The DB Method Squat Machine today.
