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Christmas can be a very tough time of the year to work out because there's just so much to do! Sure, if you're a student, then you'll come home for the holidays, take time off from homework and studying, and spend time with friends and family. If you're making Christmas dinner, then you're making Christmas dinner, and if you have a medium to large-sized family, then you'll be overwhelmed. Finally, people in general don't like to be active during the holidays. There's a lazy, relaxed feel to the holidays, which can be good, but which is bad when you're trying to keep up an exercise routine.

Let's say you're a student who has come home for the holidays. You'll want to catch up with your friends, spend time with your parents (maybe), see any younger siblings you might have, and most of all, just relax for once. Being a student is very stressful, and though exercise is a good way to relieve stress, sleeping is a pretty good way to rest, and if you're worn-out from a busy semester of school, then you'll really need a break. It's tough to choose between your body's need to get in shape and your mind's need for rest, so don't count on working out during the holidays.

If you're in high school or college and have just come off of playing a fall sport, then you'll have all the more reason not to want to work out. Think: you've dedicated three months to a sport, ideally shown up to practice every day, even on weekends, and played in grueling games. Why, oh why, would you want to dedicate time to working out on your vacation? Sure, you want to stay in shape, but you also want to rest, don't you? Athletes often use the holidays to take a well-deserved break, but if you really want to stay in shape, then you just need to pick yourself up and exercise a bit.

If you're not a student, but a parent or other working adult, then you definitely deserve a break from everyday life. If you're a regular lifter or runner, then you'll probably want to take some time off and rest; however, you have a slight advantage in this is just part of your regular routine and you are self-motivated. See, student-athletes have coaches and parents pushing them to succeed, but no one will push you if you've made the choice to stay active on your own, so you'll be less likely to want to take a break from your exercise routine.

The bottom line is that a lack of motivation and a desire for rest makes it difficult to find time to work out over Christmas. Yes, you also want to spend time with your loved ones, catch up with old friends, prepare for dinner or other holiday parties, and more, so your time is spread pretty thin as it is, and exercise is probably the last thing on your mind. Still, try to find time to stay in shape over the winter; it'll hurt less when you pick your exercise routine back up later on.

Learn more about this author, David Aaron White.
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