Five Expert Tips to Ease Back into Workouts After Christmas

It goes without saying that while Christmas is an enjoyable time spent with loved ones, it can be incredibly chaotic.

As a result, many people lose their daily routine, with this impacting exercise. Not to mention, the festive period is filled with lots of food, which can cause feelings of guilt due to the lack of exercise – and it’s quite the challenge getting back into a fitness routine after a break. 

However, nutrition experts Bulk have highlighted five tips to ease back into your fitness regime after the Christmas period. 

 Schedule your workouts 

  It’s natural to lose motivation after the Christmas break as you will have adjusted to time away from the gym – but without scheduling your workout, this goes hand in hand with making excuses not to exercise.  

Look at your weekly schedule in advance and add a slot for working out where you have the most free time; doing so allows you to get into the right frame of mind beforehand while reducing the likelihood of telling yourself that you are too busy. Additionally, many people will be getting back into a work routine upon returning after the festivities, so having a workout schedule allows you to select a time when your workload won’t take over. 

Don’t push yourself too hard 

At any other time of the year, pushing yourself is encouraged when it comes to working out; however, it’s sensible not to overexert yourself after a break. Whether your workouts consist of cardio or weightlifting, overuse injuries such as muscle strains can occur if you exercise too much, which can only hinder your progress.  

As you ease back into your workouts, remember to go slowly and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your sessions. It’s vital not to be discouraged if you can’t perform as well as you could before Christmas, as it won’t take long to see improvements with consistency. Not to mention, taking it slowly avoids feeling burnt out from doing too much too quickly, which prevents you from giving up altogether. 

Tailor your workouts to your lifestyle 

Don’t forget that gyms aren’t required for staying fit and healthy. You can use various environments for exercising, which allows you to tailor them to your lifestyle and ensure that they are as enjoyable as possible. 

 There are various exercises that nature enthusiasts can choose while also embracing the outdoors, such as running, cycling, and walking, to name a few. Alternatively, if you enjoy a cosy atmosphere and wish to work out from your home, you can invest in equipment like dumbbells and kettlebells if you want to build muscle. Or, for an intense aerobic workout, simply grab an exercise mat, find a spacious area in your home, and follow a HIIT workout video from your phone or TV. 

Find a fitness partner 

Having a friend who shares fitness goals similar to yours can offer you motivation after periods of low physical activity. If you’ve already planned a workout with your fitness partner, you’ll likely feel more obligated to avoid letting them down, thus reducing the chance of putting it off for another day. As well as this, they can push you even further, whether increasing the speed on the treadmill or lifting a heavier weight. 

Yet another benefit of having a fitness partner is that they can keep you focused on your goals – they can identify when you’re falling off track and notice any goals you have met to keep you determined. With the social side of the workout, there’s more chance that you’ll look forward to it, too. 

Implement short-term goals 

 While long-term goals are important to help you decide exactly what exercises you need to be doing consistently, they can cause disappointment when you aren’t seeing progress as quickly as you’d hoped, which can even cause you to admit defeat. Unfortunately, this is particularly easy when trying to ease back into exercise. 

Because of this, setting more feasible goals over shorter periods is essential to keep you motivated upon meeting them. On top of this, implement goals that aren’t solely appearance-based to help you track your progress, such as running a 5k quicker or increasing your hip thrust load by 10 kilograms in one month.