Every December I see the same pattern. People hit silly season and instantly decide that routine no longer matters. Training stops. Structure disappears. The mindset becomes “I’ll start fresh in January” and everything between now and then becomes a write-off.

It is one of the most damaging habits you can build because January then becomes a month of panic, guilt and trying to undo everything that happened over Christmas. But here’s the thing that most people forget. December doesn’t need perfection. It needs awareness. It needs consistency. And it also needs balance and compassion.

You can hold your standards without trying to live like an athlete through every Christmas party. And you can enjoy yourself without abandoning everything you’ve worked for this year.

Life gets chaotic this month. Work deadlines. Social events. Family commitments. Kids off school. Travelling. None of that is going away and pretending it will is unrealistic. But there is always something you can control. Even when the perfect plan disappears.

You can control getting steps in.
You can control hydrating properly.
You can control getting one or two quality meals in each day.
You can control training when the opportunity appears, even if the session is shorter or simpler than usual.

This is how you stay consistent in December. Not through perfection, but through small, steady behaviours that keep your body switched on.

Training at this time of year is not about chasing PBs. It’s about keeping momentum. If you have a 30-minute window, take it. If you can train at home instead of getting to the gym, that’s still a win. If all you can manage is a short run or a simple circuit, that still counts.

People who feel good in January are the ones who used the pockets of time they had. They didn’t wait for the perfect day because the perfect day never comes in December.

And here’s the part most people forget. You should enjoy Christmas. You should enjoy the food, the social time, the downtime and the break from routine. Being disciplined does not mean being miserable. There is no benefit in beating yourself up for having a drink at the work party or a relaxed meal with your family.

Being kind to yourself also means accepting that some sessions won’t happen. Some days will get away from you. You might feel tired, stressed or spread thin. That is normal. But kindness is not the same as avoidance. Kindness is acknowledging what is realistic, adjusting the plan and doing what you can without guilt.

This is the real value of staying steady now. When you keep things ticking over, you walk into January with momentum. You are not starting again. You are not rebuilding. You are simply shifting gears.

Most people start January from the bottom of the hill because they let December roll them backwards. But if you stay steady now, even at 60 percent, January becomes a launchpad. You will feel sharper, fitter and mentally ready while everyone else tries to catch up.

I’m doing the same myself. Training for an ultra through a busy period. Some days are strong. Some days are quiet. But I keep going. Not perfectly. Not aggressively. Just consistently. And that’s all you need through December.

December doesn’t break your progress. Abandoning yourself does. Hold your standards. Use your windows of opportunity. Be kind to yourself. And keep things ticking over so you can hit January already moving.

January belongs to the people who stay engaged now.

Blaine
BCPerformance
07931337572
[email protected]
Barbell Training Complex | Warwick