IT'S OKAY TO HATE
THE
HOLIDAYS
Hang In There; Cecilia Di Paolo/Death to Stock
4 Minute Read
Maintain your training and therefore your sanity: a survivalist guide to keeping your sparkle.
By the time December 24 rolls around, most of us are on the floor, exhausted. The festive build-up begins like clockwork each advent and is relentless until after the New Year. Peak December is a pressure cooker of performance, from the office festive party to late-night dinners and end-of-year deadlines. The worst bit: We’ve barely found time for the gym.
We can feel almost resentful at the energy debt we accumulate, and that’s before we’re hit by the tidal wave that is the actual festive period itself. “Surprise! Here’s 47 parties, 19 pies, and a schedule that makes zero sense,” says Sangita Patel, a media personality and health and fitness advocate. “And you think, ‘Welp… There goes my training progress.’”
Friends, family, food. Timings; turkey; tinsel. The expectation to be jolly—to be merry and bright and appreciative—can be overwhelming. We mentally become Scrooge and then feel bad for the fact. The cycle repeats.
This year, take a different tack. Forego the guilt. It’s okay to hate the holidays. It’s okay to be aggrieved at how the festive season knocks your routine off course. Damage control and a mindset shift can negate the effects. Taking time for yourself is a gift for everyone if it helps you be happier.
Here, the Danimás tastemakers share their elite hacks for tackling the holiday season like a pro.
Dave Rienzi. Movement and Hypertrophy Coach.
“It’s inherent to eat, sleep, and train differently with the craziness of the holidays. I find the balance by taking advantage of all the delicious food that comes with it. I’ll plan workouts around holiday cheat meals to utilize those extra calories for building muscle. It creates a little more enthusiasm and motivation throughout the holidays.
“Having a plan for the holidays is really important, as it can lead to momentum for your new year goals.
“To stay on track, I’d recommend manipulating your base diet so you have room for eating off-plan. Also, prioritize your protein by eating it first in your meal. If you fill up on protein first, you won’t be as likely to over-indulge on sweet treats.
“I’d also recommend adding 5-10 minutes more cardio a day, if your schedule allows, or try changing your steady state cardio to HIIT as a great way to burn more calories. Try to stay as consistent as you can, but don’t stress if you need to amend your workouts. A 30-minute workout is better than no workout.”
Claire Prince. Personal Trainer, Nike Coach, and Olympian.
“My holidays tend to be pretty quiet as most of my clients tend to be on holiday, so the holidays are a reset that end up fortifying my nutrition and my training. I use this time to train myself at maximum capacity. I take a mental inventory of all the things that my body is able to do, and has enabled me to do. This normally brings me into a state of gratitude and inspires me for the new year.
“My clients often express concerns about their fitness routines around the holidays.
“The best bit of advice I would give is to commit at least 50 percent of your normal training workload. It takes the pressure off trying to keep up, but also maintains the progress you’ve made thus far.”
Sangita Patel. Media Personality, Health and Fitness Advocate.
“During the holidays, I personally go into guilt-free mode. I want to be present, laugh loudly, and eat the cookie. Eat two! I’ve earned the joy. I’m a macros person. Cake is part of my life.
“Think about it this way. You’ve been on fire all year—lifting, hustling, meal-prepping, and being an absolute legend. Give yourself serious credit. You’ve built muscle, discipline, and a mindset that doesn’t crumble at the sight of mashed potatoes, even the cheesy ones.
“If you track macros, awesome: Use them like a strategy guide. Shift them. Save them. Sacrifice a few carbs in the morning so you can have that holiday dessert that feels like a warm hug from childhood. Awareness alone keeps things balanced.
“If you miss a gym day, nothing explodes. Go for a walk: It boosts mood, digestion, and can get you away from that one relative who wants to talk politics. Do the most, or do the absolute least. Just promise yourself one thing: Don’t waste a single moment feeling guilty. You’ve worked too hard to let fear steal your joy.”
Hang In There; Cecilia Di Paolo/Death to Stock
Anne-Marie Chaker. Writer, Bodybuilder, and Author of LIFT.
“The holidays are a magical time, but I do struggle with the cold and with the treats. There are so many of them everywhere, all at once. It’s easy to get off-track, so I give myself grace: I celebrate, I indulge on certain days, and then I dial back into my training and nutrition. Remember: don’t overthink it, and don’t spiral. Enjoy the moment—and then just get back on the horse the next day. That’s it.
"I’ve started taking my whole life to the gym. Laptop, food—everything. It’s a place for me to see people, move my body, and reset. And once I’m there, there’s no excuse to skip my training. The key for me is simply leaving the house. I have a nightly wind-down ritual of Wordle and Connections, snuggled up with my kids, that I really look forward to. We laugh, we unwind, and it gently signals that bedtime is coming. I also love hot baths with Epsom salts, which are great for sore muscles.”
Grace Cook. Editorial Director, Danimás.
“Christmas is usually very busy for me with my family, but this year, I’m using the break as a much-needed reset. I want to prioritize training. I also want to make sure that I dedicate time for recovery, which is the first thing that falls off when my schedule gets crazy. The sauna, Pilates, and foam rolling are all on my agenda.
"I plan to indulge in all my favorite foods for one or two days. Since I was a child, I have eaten a big chocolate bar for breakfast while unwrapping my presents. As an adult, I try to have a smaller portion… I’ll also go for a run. Even 15-20 minutes is enough to create a feeling of balance, and the lull after all the gifts is a good time to escape. Remember, it’s not selfish to prioritize working out if it enables you to be more present and better enjoy the holidays.”
Ashley Damaj. Founder of Mothership Wellness, Athlete, and Coach.
"The stress can cloud the holiday season for busy, working moms. Between school performances, holiday parties, family photos, client needs, budgets, and gifts… The dance between obligation and self-permission is tricky. You simply can’t escape it all, but you certainly don’t need to be immersed in all of it.
"I spend Christmas at home with my husband and two daughters, who are aged 4 and 9. I like to hit a workout in the morning, and I start drinking champagne by 1pm; I rarely drink alcohol, so this feels special. We cook an elaborate meal as a family. We take a walk after dinner. I never host or travel. Holidays fall in my off-season from bodybuilding so I am more flexible: no counting macros, having 2 glasses of wine weekly, and not stressing if I miss a day of programming.
"I focus more on mobility and muscle building versus lower-body fat and aesthetics. Remember: we cannot be in spring and summer all the time. Our bodies, like nature, have seasons, and we crave hibernation, with higher fats and carbs. I’d suggest people ditch the calendar year and lean into the cyclical year, with time for training measured in seasons and natural rhythms, rather than dates."
