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The holidays are the perfect time to bond with family, catch up with high school friends, and catch up on Mad Men. They can also be the perfect time to derail your healthy habits. It’s no one’s fault—being home can make it easy to be lazy; relatives can make plates of cookies so tempting. But you still have a choice. Check out our seven tips for surviving the holidays so you can enjoy the season and your skinny jeans.

1)      Don’t Put Your Health on Hiatus

It’s easy to say it’s just a few weeks of decadence. The only problem is that it’s much harder to get back into the habit. It goes back to how your brain wires itself. There’s no reason to shun all treats, but keep everything in perspective. It’s not hard to work out and eat well, even if you’re in a different environment.

Getting together with old friends for a workout is a great chance to catch up and stay fit.

2)      Try New Workouts

No gym, no problem. The minimalist workouts in College Fit Guide work just as well in your bedroom as your dorm room. Or, use whatever you have to make new workouts. Does your dad have a weight rack in the garage? Dust it off and try new things. See if any friends in town like to go jogging or take yoga classes.

3)      Splurge on the Best

Some things are absolutely worth indulging in over the holidays. Fleming’s Steakhouse’s chocolate lava cake on Christmas Eve…yeah, no way I’m skipping that. But stale cookies left out in a bookstore? Not tasty. Have your fun, but make sure it’s the yummiest fun. You’ll eat less if you only eat the best.

It’s easy to pass on stale cookies if you can eat this on Christmas Eve!

4)      Don’t Be a Zealot

If you’ve made some great habits this semester and have seen positive changes, it’s natural to want to shout it from the rooftops. But some people take that as a challenge, or even a threat. Keep your habits, but keep them quietly. Setting a good example is a great way to influence others, so just sticking to your routines may have a positive effect on your family.

On the other hand, some people may take this as an opportunity to unload a season’s worth of Dr. Oz tips to “tweak” your plan. Smile, but filter. If what you are doing is working for you, resist the urge to make sudden changes or program hop. Consistency leads to more results than anything else.

5)      Say No to Peer Pressure

There is no reason to eat a cookie you didn’t want to eat just because Aunt Martha made it. Be polite, but don’t feel pressured into breaking your habits. College is a great place to develop independence and self-accountability—learning to stick to your truth and no one else’s is a key part of growing up. Make your choices your own.

6)      Keep Moving

Scientists have found that people who move a lot during the day can burn more calories than someone who works out for an hour and stays sedentary the rest of the day. The point is that even if you can’t work out as often as you usually do, just keep moving. Walk the dog, clean the dishes, and go on an epic shopping trip—the movement adds up to a solid caloric burn. Plus, humans were meant to move; more and more studies show correlations with sedentary lifestyles and higher mortality.

7)      Set Goals

We discuss goals in Fitness 3.0. If you need motivation to stay active and healthy during the holidays, set a small, non-stressful goal. Is there a holiday party you want to look especially svelte for? Use that as motivation to make smart choices. Do you want to run a mile without getting winded? That’s another goal. Write it down and keep it in your purse or on your nightstand, and review it every day. When you have priorities, you’re less likely to eat a plate of Christmas cookies.