TL;DR — Your Holiday Workout Routine in One Minute
December is chaotic—parties, travel, kids home, end-of-year deadlines—so your holiday workout routine needs to be realistic, not perfect. Ten-minute “movement snacks” help you stay consistent, boost mood, and maintain strength when time is tight.
A sample 7-day plan is included below, and if you want a guided reset, try the 7-Day Foundations Challenge.
“December isn’t the month to chase PRs—it’s the month to keep the lights on,” says obé instructor Alex M.
“Give me 10 focused minutes, and we’ll keep your strength and momentum alive.”
Why Staying Active Feels Hard in December (and Why 10 Minutes Helps)
Holiday events, travel, school breaks, and a packed work schedule make December a tough month for consistency. Your bandwidth is stretched thin, and long workouts can feel impossible.
Short, intentional bouts of movement support energy, mood, and cardiovascular health—especially when you’re active most of the year.
You’re juggling:
- Parties and social events
- Travel days that disappear in a blur
- Kids home from school
- Project deadlines and last-minute requests
- A fried nervous system
Why short workouts save your holiday workout routine
Research shows that short bouts of movement improve cardiovascular health, blood sugar, mood, and energy—especially for people who are active during the year.
“Ten minutes adds up fast,” Alex says.
“Four or five quick workouts in December is a huge win.”
How to Build a Quick and Sustainable December Routine
Instead of chasing long workouts, shift to short sessions that fit your real life.
❌ “I need a full workout.”
✅ “Where can I fit 10 focused minutes?”
This approach keeps you moving without adding stress.
Daily Focus for December
Each 10-minute session should have one purpose:
- Strength — maintain muscle
- Cardio — boost mood
- Core — stability + control
- Mobility/Stretch — undo stress and travel
Trying to do all of this in one mini-workout leads to frustration. Keep each session focused.
How Often Should You Do 10-Minute Workouts?
The sweet spot for December:
- 4–5 mini workouts per week
- Balanced mix of:
- 2× Strength
- 1–2× Cardio
- 1–2× Mobility/Core
If you hit 3 during a wild week? Still a win.
10-Minute Strength Options
Strength is your winter anchor—supporting muscle, metabolism, and mental health.
Option 1: Bodyweight Strength Circuit
Loop for 10 minutes:
- 10 squats
- 8 reverse lunges (each leg)
- 8 pushups (elevated if needed)
- 10 hip hinges
- 20–30 sec plank or dead bug
Option 2: Dumbbell Quick Strength Set
As many rounds as possible with good form:
- 8–10 goblet squats
- 8–10 Romanian deadlifts
- 8 overhead presses
- 8 bent-over rows
Try on obé:
Cardio Options for Busy Days
Cardio during the holidays should lift you, not drain you.
Option 1: Low-Impact Cardio Flow
Cycle through these moves (40 sec work / 20 sec rest):
- March with high knees
- Side steps + overhead reach
- Step-back taps
- Squat-to-calf raise
- Light boxer shuffle
Option 2: Simple Cardio Interval Template
Repeat 10×:
- 30 sec: fast march, jog, or jacks
- 30 sec: easy march
Try on obé:
“Cardio in December is mental health in motion,” Alex says.
“Ten minutes can reset your entire day.”
Mobility & Stretch Sessions for Stress Relief
Travel, gift wrapping, cooking, and floor time with kids all take a toll. Mobility helps you feel human again.
Option 1: Desk or Travel Reset
Spend ~1 minute each on:
- Neck rolls
- Chest stretch
- Hamstring stretch
- Hip flexor stretch
- Cat-cow or seated twist
Option 2: Bedtime Restore Routine
Perfect before sleep:
- Child’s pose with side reaches
- Figure-four stretch
- Supine twist
- Happy baby
- 1–2 minutes slow breathing
On obé, try:
How to Fit These Sessions Into Real Life
A holiday workout routine only works if you make it fit your life—not the other way around.
Use natural micro-slots
Try 10 minutes:
- While coffee brews
- After drop-off
- Between meetings
- Before your shower
- During oven preheat time
Habit Stacking for Your Holiday Workout Routine
Pair a new action with a habit you already do daily:
- After I brush my teeth, I stretch for 10 minutes.
- After I start the coffee, I do 10 minutes of strength.
Weekly Non-Negotiables in Your Holiday Workout Routine
Set these 3 simple non-negotiables:
- 2× Strength
- 1× Mobility
Anything beyond that is a bonus.
7-Day Sample Schedule You Can Actually Follow
A simple plan you can follow all month:
Day 1 — Strength (10 min)
Full Body Strength Quickie or dumbbell circuit
Day 2 — Mobility (10 min)
Stretch Express or desk reset
Day 3 — Cardio (10 min)
HIIT Express or Dance Cardio Quick Hit
Day 4 — Off or Light Walk
10–20 min easy stroll
Day 5 — Strength (10 min)
Glutes + shoulders quickie or Foundations strength day
Day 6 — Cardio + Core (10 min)
5-min intervals + 5-min core
Day 7 — Restore (10 min)
Yoga or bedtime mobility
The 7-Day Foundations Challenge on obé is perfect if you want form coaching, structure, and accountability during the busiest month of the year.
Bottom Line
Your holiday workout routine doesn’t need to be perfect. Ten focused minutes, done consistently, will keep you feeling steady, strong, and confident throughout December—and prep you to hit January with momentum.
Leave a Reply