Why December Is When We Actually Need This Most

Thoughts from Kim McQueen, President and CEO of Curves USA, CA, AUS and NZ

I’m going to be honest with you.. 

December kind of stresses me out.

I love the holidays, don’t get me wrong. 

But there’s something about this month that makes me feel like I’m constantly trying to catch up. 

The shopping, the planning, the social stuff… it all just piles up.

And every year I tell myself the same thing. 

“I’ll get back to my normal routine in January. Right now I just need to survive.”

Maybe you do that too?

But here’s what I’ve been noticing, especially this week. 

I’ve been talking to women in Curves clubs all over the world, and they keep saying the same thing. 

Coming in right now isn’t making December harder. 

It’s actually making it easier.

Not in some cheesy “fitness solves everything” way. 

But in a really practical way.

Because it turns out that 30 minutes where you’re just moving and not thinking about your to-do list? 

That’s not a luxury. 

That’s what gets you through the rest of the day.

One woman told me last week that Curves is the only place she goes where nobody needs anything from her. 

She’s not someone’s mom or boss or the person everyone’s asking questions.. 

She’s just… herself. 

For 30 minutes.

And that matters more than we give it credit for.

I think we’ve been taught to believe that self-care is selfish, especially when we’re busy. 

Like if we take time for ourselves, we’re somehow letting other people down..

But that’s backwards.

You can’t actually show up for anyone else if you’re running on empty. 

And December is when most of us hit empty the fastest.

So what if instead of waiting until January to “get back to it,” we actually leaned into it now? 

What if we treated movement and community as the thing that helps us survive this month, not the thing we sacrifice to survive it?

I know that sounds like a shift. 

And I’m not saying it’s easy.

But I’ve been doing this work for a long time now, and I can tell you what I see over and over. 

The women who keep showing up through the hard months are the ones who make it through with their sanity intact.

Not because they’re superhuman. 

Because they figured out that taking care of themselves isn’t optional.

At Curves, we’ve been building this kind of space for over 30 years. 

We’re not trying to be the fanciest gym or the most intense workout. 

We’re a place where women support each other. 

Where you can walk in tired and stressed and still feel like you belong.

Where 30 minutes actually makes a difference.

I was talking to one of our coaches yesterday and she said something that really stuck with me. 

She said the women who come in during December are different than the January crowd.

January people are motivated. 

They have goals. 

They’re ready to crush it.

December people? 

They’re just trying to survive. 

And that’s exactly why they need this.

Because motivation is great, but it comes and goes. 

Community is what keeps you coming back when motivation runs out.

And honestly, that’s the whole point of Curves. 

We’re not here to make you feel bad about yourself or push you harder than you’re ready for. 

We’re here to remind you that you don’t have to do this alone.

Whether you’ve been with us for years or you’re reading this for the first time, that’s the invitation.

December is hard. 

But it’s easier when you have people in your corner.

So if you’re feeling like you’re barely keeping your head above water right now, I want you to know something. 

Taking 30 minutes for yourself isn’t going to make things worse. 

It might actually be the thing that helps you get through.

Not because exercise magically fixes stress. 

But because showing up for yourself sends a message to your brain that you matter. 

That you’re worth taking care of. 

That you’re not just here to serve everyone else.

And that shift? 

That’s where real strength comes from.

Not from how much weight you can lift. 

From remembering that you’re capable even when you’re tired. 

That you can ask for help. 

That you don’t have to have it all figured out.

If you’re already part of this community, thank you for showing up. 

And if you’re not, but you’re curious what this whole thing is about? 

Come check it out.. We’d love to meet you!

 

Love, 

Kim