The holidays are here again, and the instinct to eat, drink, and be merry is strong.

Luckily, you can have your eggnog and drink it, too, as you stay active throughout the holiday season.

Whether you’re traveling, hosting, or keeping your celebrations intimate this year, there are plenty of fun ways to get moving and engage the whole family.

The Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center is here all season as your go-to for exercise and activity. In case the hustle and bustle of the holidays keep you from your regular fitness routine, here are our favorite ways to stay active with family during the holidays.

7 Ways to Stay Active with Family During the Holidays

1. Sign Up for a Holiday Fun Run

From Turkey Trots to Jingle Runs, there’s always a fun, festive race to enjoy over the holidays.

These festive 5Ks are the perfect way to don your holiday athletic gear and hit the pavement with your loved ones.

Whether you walk or run to the finish line, you’ll feel the spirit of the season surrounded by Santas, elves, reindeer, turkeys, and plenty of jolly comradery.

Here is a list of holiday fun runs you can find in Orlando this season.

2. Head Outside with a Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Taking a nice walk around the neighborhood or a nearby park is the perfect way to stretch your legs and get out of the house.

It’s even better when you have a holiday-themed scavenger hunt in hand!

Hit the sidewalks and start searching for classic holiday icons as you walk. The first person to cross every item from the list can win a prize or gets the chance to pick the holiday movie you watch as a family later.

With a fun objective in mind, a family walk can turn into a festive activity that everyone can enjoy.

3. Give Active Gifts

One way to get everyone excited about staying active is to give active items as gifts this year.

Hula hoops, frisbees, jump ropes, mini trampolines, and any kind of sports balls are all great gift ideas to get everyone outdoors and moving.

Larger gifts like yoga mats, fitness trackers, and dance classes or sports team memberships are also wonderful for encouraging a mindful and active lifestyle throughout the holidays and beyond.

4. Clean the House Together

Whether you’re hosting for the holidays or just trying to stay organized, turn cleaning the house into a fun activity.

Turn up the tunes and have a dance party as you move from room to room. Make a special cleaning playlist and let everyone contribute their favorite songs that make them want to move and groove.

While cleaning the house is already an active activity, turn your cleaning into a workout. Try vacuum cleaner lunges in the living room, or calf raises while you’re unloading the dishwasher.

Do squats to dust the baseboards and burpees each time you bend down to pick up a toy.

You can also turn cleaning into a game and get the whole family involved. Assign everyone a space and have a clean-up race to see who can finish the fastest. Give everyone a specific color and set them loose to pick up items of that color around the house.

When you have an exciting family activity that results in a clean house, everyone wins!

5. Go Ice Skating

Nothing says “holiday” more than ice skating – well, maybe curling up with a cup of hot cocoa afterwards.

Even in Orlando, there are plenty of places where you can hit the ice for some fun, wintery exercise.

Check out our list of Where to Go Ice Skating in Orlando and round up the family for some old-fashioned holiday activity.

6. Try an Online Fitness Class Together

Ready to get everyone up and moving? Stream an online fitness class that everyone can do together.

Whether it’s high-energy Zumba, a sweat-inducing HIIT routine, or a festive Christmas dance routine, a great fitness class can inspire everyone to get up and active.

You can find a variety of free workout videos on YouTube or on apps like FitOn, Nike Training Club, and Peloton.

7. Alleviate Holiday Stress with Yoga, Stretching, and Mindfulness

As wonderful and magical as the holidays can be, they can also be stressful for many people, kids included.

Make a conscious effort to disconnect from your phones and give yoga a try.

Set the scene with gentle instrumental holiday music, a fire in the fireplace (if you have one), and your holiday lights twinkling and glowing around you.

Sit or lay comfortably on the floor and follow a guided meditation, a simple yoga video, or a quick holiday stretch.

While this is a great activity to do as a family, it’s also the perfect thing to do with a few spare moments of alone time, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just need a moment to yourself.

Make RAFC Part of Your Wellness Routine this Holiday Season

The holidays are all about family and gratitude, and this year, we’re grateful to have you as part of our RAFC family.

We hope you find many opportunities to enjoy the magic of the holidays with your family as you make meaningful memories and give the priceless gift of quality time.

We look forward to seeing you and your family in the pool and the fitness center soon!