Keep the Paddle Swinging: How Pickleball Helps You Stay Active During the Holiday and Winter Season
The holiday season and winter months bring joy, celebrations, and time with loved ones, but they also bring colder weather, less daylight, heavier meals, and major disruptions to fitness routines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even small breaks in regular exercise can increase stress, impact sleep, and reduce overall well-being.
Pickleball offers a fun, social, and scientifically backed way to stay active all season long. Thanks to indoor pickleball clubs like Ace Pickleball Club, staying active is easier, more accessible, and far more enjoyable, even when the snow starts falling.
To better understand its benefits, let's explore why pickleball stands out as an excellent means to boost both physical and mental health during the holidays and throughout winter.
Why Pickleball Is the Ultimate Holiday Activity
Short, Effective Workouts Fit Any Schedule
Holidays often bring a packed calendar, such as family visits, travel, school breaks, and work parties. Long workouts often fall off the priority list, but pickleball delivers real fitness benefits in just 30 to 60 minutes.
Research shows older adults get 68 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise in a session—faster than many traditional workouts.
Even a quick match is effective for holiday mornings or post-dinner energy resets.
Why Indoor Pickleball Is the Best Way to Stay Active During the Winter
As temperatures drop and outdoor workouts become tough to maintain, indoor pickleball solves a major seasonal challenge. Ace Pickleball Club makes the sport accessible year-round with climate-controlled, professional indoor courts that eliminate weather as a factor.
APC offers Open Play all day, every day, so Members can show up anytime, grab a paddle, and play without needing reservations. It's an easy, convenient way to stay active while spending time with others. Indoor pickleball makes staying active easy and enjoyable, whether your goal is burning calories, reducing stress, or simply moving.
TLDR: Beat the Cold and Stay Active
Indoor pickleball keeps people moving through winter.
Pickleball supports both physical fitness and well-being when outdoor exercise is less practical.d.
Play with family, friends, or colleagues for a fun, healthy, and social holiday activity.y.
Ace Pickleball Club makes indoor activity accessible, safe, and enjoyable all winter long.
Evidence-Based Benefits of Pickleball During the Holidays and Winter
Low-Impact, High-Return Exercise
According to AARP, pickleball helps improve balance, coordination, and bone health while remaining gentle on joints, making it accessible to people of all ages and skill levels.
Harvard Health reports that players maintain an average heart rate of 111 bpm during play, keeping them in a moderate cardio zone ideal for improving cardiovascular fitness.
Paddletek also highlights improvements in agility, endurance, coordination, and functional strength among regular players.
A Powerful Stress Reliever in a High-Stress Season
Holiday schedules, crowded stores, family duties, and colder weather all add to seasonal stress. Pickleball provides a solution rooted in movement and community.
AARP reports that pickleball supports mental health, social engagement, and emotional well-being, especially for adults who benefit from active social environments.
NIH confirms that even 10 minutes of moderate exercise can reduce stress and lift mood.
Helps Prevent Holiday Weight Gain
Adults typically gain 1 to 2 pounds during the holiday season. This may seem small, but studies show that this weight is rarely lost later, contributing to gradual long-term weight gain. Did you know that Pickleball can burn 500 to 700 calories per hour, helping offset holiday calories?
Strengthens Immune Health During Peak Illness Season
Moderate exercise helps regulate stress hormones, improve sleep quality, and boost immune system resilience according to CDC guidelines. Indoor pickleball helps maintain consistent immune-boosting activity in winter.
Final Serve
The holiday and winter seasons can disrupt even the best fitness routines. Pickleball provides a joyful, social, and accessible solution. With proven physical benefits, mood improvement, cognitive support, and unmatched convenience through indoor play, staying active becomes simpler and far more enjoyable.
Whether you are playing with friends, introducing family members to the sport, or participating in holiday events at Ace Pickleball Club, keeping the paddle swinging is one of the best gifts you can give yourself this season. Ready to get started? Find an Ace Pickleball Club near you!