While reading my health and fitness magazines this month I noticed one common theme in a lot of the holiday articles: Finding time to work out during the holiday months.There are many reasons why exercising during the holidays is important. Not only can exercise help you in the fight against putting on post-holiday pounds, it can also help you in your attempts to deal with your extended family during the holidays.

Often we can find ourselves getting frustrated with beloved family members during the holiday months due to us spending more time with them than usual. When the family drama reaches a height you are just not comfortable with, lace up your sneakers and head out for a nice run.

Getting out of the house and spending time focusing on you and your own needs can help you gain perspective during the holidays. Whether you’re staying with your parents or maybe your in-laws, it can get crowded.

If going for a run on your block isn’t enough, try visiting some of your local gyms. Many gyms offer an end-of-the-year special for the month of December. Taking advantage of a month-long membership at a hometown gym may be the difference between a happy holiday and a stressful one.

Sometimes when Christmas break comes along, all we want to do is detach from our responsibilities and rest. Although taking a break can sometimes be necessary, taking a break from exercising can actually be more stressful than keeping with your routine.

If you’re on a regular exercise routine and you suddenly stop working out all together, you may feel guilty. No matter how tempting it might be to break away from your routines during the holidays, keeping up with your natural schedule might help you get through the stress of the holidays.

If you can’t afford a gym membership during Christmas break, at least try for other types of exercise that won’t stress your finances.

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