The December Edge Rewards challenge: a month of moving through the festive season

The December Edge Rewards challenge is a simple 31-day plan that keeps you moving from 1 to 31 December 2026, lined up exactly with the calendar month that Edge Rewards points are counted over. On the free plan you can earn up to 1,550 points in December, and this plan aims for a realistic 1,000 or so while leaving room for parties, travel, Christmas Day and proper rest.

December is the month most training plans fall apart. The days are short, the diary is full, and the gym feels a long way from the sofa. The trick is not to train harder. It is to lower the bar to something you can hit on a busy day, and let a month of small wins add up.

How do Edge Rewards points work in December?

Edge Rewards opens to everyone on Sunday 8 November 2026, so by December the programme is running for every member of the free Edge app. The rules are the same every day:

• 1 point per minute of any logged workout, up to 50 a day. Manual entries count, and so do workouts imported from Strava, Apple Health, Garmin and Coros.
• 2.5 points per 1,000 steps, up to 25 a day (that is 10,000 steps).
• A combined cap of 50 points a day on the free plan. Unused points do not roll over to the next day.
• Edge Pro earns double points with no daily cap.

The key December detail is the reset. Points go back to zero at the end of each calendar month, so 1 December is a clean start and 31 December is your last day to spend them in the in-app marketplace. If you want the full detail, our guide to how the Edge Rewards monthly reset works covers it. As a rough guide, about a week of training is enough for a free coffee, so a whole month gives you plenty of choice across coffee, snacks, protein and gear.

In the maths below we count steps cautiously. Steps you take during a logged walk or run are not added on top of that workout's minutes, so the step figures mean steps taken outside your workout.

What does a typical December day look like?

The plan uses three kinds of day, so you never have to think too hard:

• Active day (35 to 45 points): a 15 to 25 minute logged workout plus about 8,000 steps through the rest of the day. For example, a 25-minute session (25 points) plus 8,000 steps (20 points) is 45 points.
• Easy day (15 to 20 points): no workout, just a walk. 6,000 steps is 15 points and 8,000 steps is 20.
• Full day (50 points): a 30-minute workout plus 8,000 steps, or a 50-minute session on its own. Nice when it happens, never required.

A workout can be anything you log: a run, a gym session, a 20-minute HIIT circuit in the living room, a spin class, yoga or a brisk walk. Mixing them through the week is good for your body and stops December feeling repetitive.

What are the weekly themes and targets?

December 2026 starts on a Tuesday and ends on a Thursday, so the plan runs as a short first week, three full weeks and a four-day finish. Here are the targets, the points they earn on the free plan, and the most each week could earn.

That realistic total of about 1,000 points is roughly two thirds of the free maximum, with 12 easy days built in. On Edge Pro, the same month would earn roughly twice as much, because points are doubled and there is no daily cap.

Week 1: how do you set the base?

The first week is about routine, not effort. Pick your four active days now and put them in your calendar like meetings. Keep sessions to about 20 minutes: a brisk walk or easy run, a short full-body strength session, or a beginner HIIT workout. If you need ideas, our 20-minute HIIT workout at home fits neatly into a lunch break.

Connect your watch, phone or Strava in the app this week too, so every walk and workout counts without extra effort.

Week 2: how do you build the habit?

Add one active day and stretch sessions to about 25 minutes. This is the week to find a regular walking route for your steps, such as getting off the bus a stop early or a 15-minute walk after lunch. A steady daily walk matters more than chasing a perfect number.

Week 3: how do you keep moving through party season?

Mid December is when work parties, late nights and drinks pile up. The plan drops to four active days on purpose. A few tips that tend to help:

• Train in the morning on party days. A 20-minute session before work is done before the evening can get in the way.
• Walk to the venue, or part of the way. It adds steps without taking time from anything else.
• Make the day after easy. Late nights and alcohol tend to hurt sleep, so swap a hard session for a walk and keep the points from steps.
• Keep sessions short. A 15-minute bodyweight circuit still counts, and it is far better than skipping the day.

Week 4: how do you handle Christmas week?

Christmas week runs from Monday 21 December, which is around the shortest day of the year, to Sunday 27 December. Christmas Day falls on a Friday and Boxing Day on a Saturday. The plan has just three short active days and four walk days, because this is a week to enjoy, not a week to grind.

• Do your active days early in the week. Monday to Wednesday are usually calmer than Christmas Eve.
• Make walks social. A family walk after Christmas lunch or a Boxing Day stroll easily reaches 8,000 steps.
• Travelling? Take a 15-minute bodyweight routine you can do in a spare room, and walk around the station or services while you wait.
• Christmas Day is optional. If all you do is a short walk, that is a good day.

Week 5: how do you finish strong before the reset?

The last four days, Monday 28 to Thursday 31 December, are a gentle return to routine. Many people are off work, so three active days at around 45 points is realistic. Before the end of 31 December, open the marketplace and spend any points you want to use, because the balance goes back to zero when the month ends and January starts fresh.

How do you train safely in cold, dark weather?

UK winter brings short days and icy pavements, so a little planning goes a long way:

• Warm up for a bit longer than usual, around 5 to 10 minutes of easy movement before anything hard.
• Dress in thin layers you can take off, plus gloves and a hat. You should feel slightly cool when you set off.
• Wear something bright or reflective after dark, and pick well-lit routes.
• On icy days, swap your run for an indoor workout. Indoor sessions earn points exactly the same way once logged.
• Try to get outside in daylight, even for a short lunchtime walk. Many people find it lifts their mood in midwinter.

Why are rest days part of the challenge?

Points should never push you into training when your body needs a break. Rest is when your muscles adapt to the work you have done, and skipping it is one of the most common reasons beginners get niggles or burn out. That is why the plan has 12 easy days and never asks for 50 points every day. Steps still earn on rest days, and a gentle walk often helps you feel less stiff. Our beginner guide to rest days explains more.

If you feel unusually tired, sore for days, or ill, take an extra rest day. Missing a few points is fine. Getting injured in December and missing January is not.

How much exercise does this plan add up to?

Across the month, the plan works out at roughly 75 to 100 minutes of logged workouts a week plus daily walking. UK physical activity guidelines suggest adults aim for around 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, plus muscle-strengthening work on two days. Brisk walking can count towards that, so a strength session or two and regular brisk walks take most people a long way there. If you want a structured programme that does the planning for you, Edge Pro builds a fully personalised plan across running, strength, HIIT and mobility, ready within 24 hours, with a real coach to message anytime. It costs £22.99 a month, £84.99 every six months or £129.99 a year, after a 7-day free trial that needs a card.

This article is general guidance, not medical advice. If you are new to exercise, returning from injury, or managing a health condition, speak to your GP before starting, and see a physio for any niggle that does not settle.