The end of the year is always crunch time, whether you're cramming for final exams, squeezing some last minute Christmas shopping, or just trying to find a balance between your everyday life and the holidays. What this means for most men is that working out and staying fit take a backseat to all the other things they have to do before the new year. We've put together a list of helpful tips to keep you motivated and on track in your fitness goals, even when your schedule is too busy to handle anything else!

  1. Workout in the morning 
    While this might seem counterintuitive because it requires so much extra willpower to get out of bed to go to the gym even earlier, it's actually proven to help increase your productivity throughout the day. People who workout in the mornings tend to accomplish 30% more throughout the day than those who workout later in the day or skip exercise altogether. This will, of course, take some adjusting at first, but once you've made it a habit, you'll find it helps give you the motivation to stay fit and tackle the rest of your busy day!
  2. Shorten your workout 
    One of the biggest reasons men tend to skip exercising when they get busy or when they feel lazy is because 30 minutes at the gym sounds excruciating. But if you shorten your workouts to 15 minutes, it often makes them seem much more doable. In addition, you often find that once you've completed your 15 minute workout, you have enough energy to keep going. Shortening your workouts is also extremely helpful if you're crunched for time because the only bad workout is the one you didn't do.
  3. Go to the gym right after work 
    If you're struggling to find the energy and motivation to go to the gym right before work, go right after—DON'T GO HOME. Once you're at home, it's much easier to get distracted by TV shows, social media, or even how nice the couch feels when you sit down. If you pack your gym bag and workout right after work, you're much more likely to keep up with consistent workouts and less likely to get sucked into the couch all evening. 
  4. Sneaky exercising
    If there's absolutely no way you can make it to the gym, you can make up for it by finding different ways to exercise throughout the day. Take the stairs at work, park further away from the grocery store when you run errands, or do squats while you're brushing your teeth! It doesn't matter how you sneak your exercises in, just make sure that you're staying active even if you aren't at the gym!
  5. Go for a walk
    If none of these suggestions have worked for you, you can always opt to take a nice walk. You don't have to take a 5 mile walk, but oftentimes just stepping out the door is the only motivation you need. Once you're outside, you'll feel more energized. Taking short walks has also been linked to lower stress levels because exercise is one of the most underused anti-depressants! 

To find more workout tips and other tips for staying fit during the holidays, visit our blog at lean180.com. And as always, thanks for reading!