I’ve been a personal trainer in Austin for about 14 years, and over time I noticed a curious pattern.
Every December, when the gym floor got quiet and people were skipping workouts for holiday parties, travel, school events, and end-of-year chaos… I was slammed.
Packed schedule. Clients booking extra check-ins. Hardly a free hour in sight.
At first, it didn’t make sense. You’d think the holidays would be dead in the training world. The message we always hear is that everyone falls off the wagon in December and then comes charging back in January with a “New Year, New Me!” attitude.
But year after year, I saw the same trend of busy busy Decembers.
The people who were most successful didn’t wait for January.
And after watching this play out over and over, I realized something important about my most successful clients—the ones who stay healthy, strong, and confident through the season:
Consistency
Their secret was consistency.
Not perfection.
Not restriction.
Not skipping every event or “making up for it” with hours of cardio.
Just simple, steady consistency.
Even during the busiest time of the year.
What Consistency Actually Looks Like During the Holidays
Here’s the part people misunderstand: consistency in December does not look like perfect attendance or flawless nutrition.
For most of my clients, it looked like things such as:
- Showing up for 2 workouts instead of 3–4
- Moving their session time to squeeze something in before a party
- Doing a shorter session at home if they couldn’t get to the gym
- Keeping some structure during a month where it’s easy to lose it
- Maintaining routines instead of abandoning them completely
Sure, there were cancellations. There were reschedules. There were travel weeks and family obligations.
But they didn’t disappear until January.
They didn’t write the whole month off.
They didn’t let one chaotic week turn into six.
Related: Are you looking for gifts for your gym friends? Or you?? Check these out!
Why Consistency Matters Even More in December
There are more parties.
More drinks, more big meals.
More stress, more socializing.
More unpredictability! Last minute gifts! Last minute schedule changes!
Those things stack up fast.
But when you keep even a small anchor of routine, like your workouts, your walks, your hydration, your sleep, you give your body and mind something steady during a season of chaos.
That tiny bit of consistency keeps you from feeling like you’re starting over in January. Instead, you roll into the new year already warmed up, already confident, already successful.
The Real Holiday Success Secret
If you take one thing from this, let it be this:
You don’t need a perfect holiday season. You just need a consistent one.
Focus on doing something, not doing everything. Stay in the game, and trust that it adds up.
Your future January self will thank you.
What’s Your Holiday Plan?
Do you need help with your December plan? I’d love to talk with you about it! Message me here and we’ll start with a free consult.
Let’s make you a plan!
About the author
Kathryn Alexander is a strength coach and personal trainer in Austin, Texas. She loves hiking, college football, and the feel of a perfectly knurled barbell. Read more about Kathryn here.
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