The holidays are here, and life is about to get busy with family, friends, and all the fun (and food) that comes with it. While it’s tempting to hit pause on your workouts, staying consistent—even with short, simple sessions—can make a huge difference. Working out helps you manage stress, keep your energy up, and stick to the healthy habits you’ve been building all year.
If you’re traveling or short on time, don’t sweat it (well, actually, do!). You don’t need a gym or a ton of equipment to stay active. Check out these five quick workouts you can do anywhere to keep the momentum going:
1. 12 Days of Christmas Workout
Just like the song, this workout adds a little more each round:
- 1 burpee
- 2 push-ups
- 3 air squats
- 4 sit-ups
- 5 jumping jacks
- 6 lunges (3 per leg)
- 7 mountain climbers (each leg counts as 1)
- 8 tricep dips (use a sturdy chair)
- 9 high knees (each leg counts as 1)
- 10 plank shoulder taps (5 per side)
- 11 tuck jumps
- 12-second plank hold
Start with 1 burpee, then 2 push-ups + 1 burpee, then 3 air squats + 2 push-ups + 1 burpee, and so on. It’s a fun challenge that’ll get your heart pumping fast!
2. Quick Tabata Burn
This one’s super simple and takes only 16 minutes:
- 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest, 8 rounds of each:
- Jump squats
- Push-ups
- Sit-ups
- Burpees
Short, intense, and effective—perfect when you’re pressed for time.
3. 15-Minute AMRAP
As Many Rounds As Possible in 15 minutes:
- 10 air squats
- 10 push-ups
- 10 alternating lunges
- 10 sit-ups
Set a timer, move at your own pace, and see how many rounds you can get.
4. Holiday HIIT Circuit
Set a timer for 20 minutes:
- 1 minute jump rope (or pretend to jump rope)
- 30 seconds burpees
- 1 minute wall sit (or squat hold)
- 30 seconds high knees
- 1 minute plank hold
Rest 1 minute, then repeat for 3 rounds.
5. Core & Cardio Combo
Do 10 rounds of:
- 10 sit-ups
- 10 leg raises
- 10-second hollow body hold
- 20 jumping jacks
This one’s great for firing up your core while keeping your heart rate up.
Why Keep Moving?
Skipping workouts over the holidays can make it way harder to get back into the swing of things later. Even quick workouts help you feel better, stay on track, and make it easier to jump back in after the holiday craziness.
It’s not about being perfect—it’s about showing up for yourself, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. So carve out a little time, get moving, and finish the year strong.
Enjoy the holidays, stay active, and we’ll see you back at Blackstone River CrossFit ready to crush it in the new year!
