By Tamara Newell

December 2025

Holiday traditions vary for each of us, but we all have at least one thing in common this season – we’re busy. Healthy habits get bumped to the bottom of the to-do list. Baking, parties, shopping and time spent with loved ones takes the front seat and understandably so. Putting your Pilates practice on the shelf until January may seem like a good idea, but with a little planning you can squeeze in a quick Pilates session or a workout in 20 minutes. It’s not only doable, but worth it to usher you into the new year strong and healthy instead of burned out and sick.

Pilates for Busy People – 3 Tips for Efficient Fitness

Efficiency is everything this month. December is fun and festive, not generally the time of year we start a new, extensive workout plan. We’ll save that for next month. This month is all about fast fitness. How can we stay strong, centered and healthy through the new year?

Here’s 5 tips for busy people who want efficient workouts.

1. Write it down

It’s easy to mentally plan you’ll squeeze a workout in 20 minutes after you’ve checked everything else off your list. But typically, this doesn’t work. Set aside a few minutes every week to manually write your quick Pilates workouts into your calendar. Even if it’s a short one, this helps you realistically know when it can happen and how to fit it into everything else you’re juggling.

2. Set a time limit for online gift shopping

Internet shopping has given us the illusion that we can buy everyone’s gifts quicker by doing it online. Maybe, maybe not. If it leaves you scrolling for the perfect gift for 3 hours, that’s not efficient. Set a limit on how much time you’ll spend scrolling for gifts and make a choice.

3. Do it first

Set your Pilates clothes and mat next to your bed. If you’re a roll out of bed and slumber to coffee kinda person, set up your workout space first. Pumping fresh oxygen through your lungs and blood through your circulatory system will wake you up better than a cup of joe. A quick Pilates workout, even 15 minutes, will set you up for a great day.

4. Keep it short – Fast fitness it better than no fitness

A 15 minute walk or 20 minute Pilates workout is better than no workout. If you’re used to thinking that exercise is only worth your time if you’re at the gym for 2 hours, it’s time for a

mindset shift. Small choices made consistently over time create big results. Imagine you do 20 minutes of Pilates, three times a week in December? That’s an hour a week, or four hours a month. Four hours isn’t nothing. Fast fitness is the key to staying consistent this month.

5. Make yourself accountable

We all need a little help from our friends. Joining a community to help keep you accountable can make a huge difference during the busy holiday season. Instead of meeting a friend for coffee or lunch, meet up at the Pilates studio for a class. Wanting to connect with a family member that’s far away? Commit to texting each other through the month to encourage healthy habits and cheer one another on.

The Pilates team at ProHealth Pilates and Physical Therapy in Peachtree City, GA is ready to help you stay healthy and strong this December. Sign up for a class today!