• You don’t have to abandon your fitness goals now that Christmas time is here…
• The holiday season chaos does overtake exercise for many of us, but follow these five tips and you can sneak in some workouts over these coming weeks.

1. Save it for the bedroom

No – we’re not talking about “that,” although it is good cardio… Instead, when you wake up, work out, get ready, then go.

Sounds easy, right? Well that’s because it is. Google search some quick and intense bodyweight workouts, and do them as soon as you get out of bed. You won’t notice any impact on your festive schedule!

2. Add challenges to your daily life

No time to head to the gym? Just take your normal daily schedule and add some exercise-based challenges.

That bus you took to work usually? Nope, you take it to the stop before. Lifts are now alien travel devices that you’re too scared to use. And that shopping trolley – pretend they’re all gone and give your guns some good weight training with a basket.

3. Take faster classes

Gym classes are great for getting you fit in a comfortable social situation that applies the subtle peer pressure of being judged by your fellow class members (even though they don’t actually judge you).

However, these classes usually take an hour (two hours for some particularly dedicated classes), which is time you’d really rather spend on Christmas-related antics.

Well, luckily, gyms are beginning to listen and have started offering shorter 30-minute classes of HIIT exercise. Look out for them and get involved.

4. Late-night sesh

Looking to rush around the gym before heading home? Chances are you’ve hit peak time and you’re sat there waiting for each machine upwards of 10 minutes!

Save that energy and head to the gym later, check for the least busiest times that are usually late at night. You’ll get the pick of the machines without any fuss or wasted time.

5. Cardio commute

You might be tempted to wrap up warm and rely on your car’s heater to keep toasty on your commute to work. But if you’re serious about keeping up with your cardio over Christmas, ditch the car and get some trainers.

Walk to work, run to work or cycle to work. All your circuits can wait over the party season, as you can get a great work out on your commute.