With a packed holiday schedule fast approaching, many people may be finding themselves stretched for workout time. Establishing a consistent routine is essential for those with busy schedules. Even for the busiest among us, there are usually 30 to 60 minutes available at some point during the day where we may be able to sneak in a quick ride or run, or some dynamic strength work. If you are traveling, establishing a routine may be more challenging in an unfamiliar setting. Regardless of your situation, here are some tips to ensure you’re not losing ground:

• Get functional: a high-quality dynamic strength and stability routine can be completed in a very short time. Even if you only have a few minutes here and there, squeeze in a few exercises each time you have a break.
• Be specific: if time is short, make your workouts count by focusing on something specific during the entire session: leg strength, pedaling skills, running form, swim stroke.
• Work together: if traveling or vacationing with family, plan outings where you can spend time working out together. Hiking, easy riding, cross-country skiing, indoor volleyball or tennis and many others are all good options that everyone can enjoy.
• Rest up: if all else fails and you truly can’t fit “workouts” in, just let it go and try to relax. Give the body and mind a chance to recover and you’ll be ready to jump back in when everything returns to normal.

Enjoy the holiday season and remember to think of your goals before going back for seconds