Everyone is busy! People who exercise are just as busy as those who don't. So, even if you cave to the pressure of the many responsibilities and skip your workouts to get more done at home or at work, there will still be more things to do.

You can be busy and fit and feel good about your ability to stick with exercise during the holiday season. Or you can be busy and unfit and feel lousy. Your choice.

Here's the good news: You can have an effective workout in less time than you think. Remember, the ONLY requirement for an effective workout is that it has to ask more of your body than it is used to.

The following tips should help you put this idea into action:

1. Add intensity to your cardio workouts - a faster speed, higher level, or more RPMs if cycling
2. Reduce your rest between sets of weight training
3. Perform one less set of each weight training exercise
4. Add a small amount of weight to your last set of each weight training exercise
5. Focus your training on the larger muscles and skip the smaller ones
6. Use Super Sets to reduce your workout time
7. Try a different type of cardio - it will feel like a new challenge

These are just a few ideas. Try one or all of them. But, KEEP MOVING during the holiday season. The last thing you want to do is give up all the great fitness you've earned by not working out for a few weeks.