The Holidays Tried to Derail You… But You Packed Gym Clothes
By Coach Keller
As the year winds down, schedules get messy. Holiday travel, family gatherings, office parties, and end-of-year deadlines always seem to land at the same time. It’s easy to let your healthy routines slide—even the ones you’ve worked hard all year to build. But here’s the truth: you don’t need perfection to finish the year feeling strong. What you do need is consistency, and a willingness to adapt rather than abandon your habits when life gets busy.
The final weeks of the year are actually one of the most important times to hold onto your routines. Not because you need to “earn” holiday food or mitigate mental breakdowns, but because keeping your habits alive—even in smaller doses—protects the foundation you’ve built. If you’re someone who moves your body regularly, fuels yourself well, and makes your strength a priority, continuing that pattern through December reinforces that story. It becomes who you are, not something you do when the conditions are just right.
That said, workouts in December don’t always look like workouts in July. You may not have access to a gym while traveling. Your sessions might be shorter. You might miss a couple days at Evergreen. That’s okay! A quick 15–20 minutes still keeps the momentum going and helps you feel grounded during a chaotic season.
If you’re on the road or away from your usual routine, keep it simple. Choose movements that hit multiple muscle groups at once: squats, lunges, glute bridges, push-ups (or incline push-ups), planks, and farmer carries using anything heavy-ish—your suitcase counts. Aim for three simple circuits: 40 seconds of work, 20 seconds of rest, 5–6 movements total. You can finish an effective workout in the time it takes for your scorching airport coffee to cool down. Want more ideas? Check out Evergreen GO and get a full library of workout plans!
Another strategy: pair your workout with an existing holiday routine. If you always take the dog out in the morning, add a 10-minute walk jog or stop at a park bench for step-ups and push-ups. If you’re staying with family, sneak in a bodyweight circuit before everyone wakes up. If the day gets away from you, grab a resistance band and do a short mobility flow before bed. The goal isn’t intensity—it’s continuity.
Small efforts keep your brain in “I’m a person who works out” mode. And that mindset pays off big time when January arrives!
Because starting the new year from scratch feels hard. Really hard. Anyone who’s ever taken a long break knows the struggle of rebuilding habits: that first workout back, the soreness, the mental negotiation, the doubt. But starting the year already in motion? Completely different story. Jump into January feeling capable, confident, and connected to your routine—not scrambling to completely start over.
Finishing the year strong doesn’t require huge workouts or strict discipline. It just requires staying committed to the identity you’ve built. Keep your habits alive, even in small ways. Protect the momentum you’ve earned.
Your future self—on January 1st and beyond—will be so glad you did, and we at Evergreen will always be glad to have you!
