It doesn’t matter if you’re a lifelong fitness enthusiast, or someone who’s just gotten their first gym membership: it’s hard to motivate yourself to move your body during the winter.
Between the freezing temperatures and the biting wind and darker days, the winter months are practically begging us to stay inside and hibernate. The last thing we want is to go for a run when it’s cold or rainy. And while winter’s dark and dreary days are a great excuse to curl up on the couch and watch TV, you’ll want to make sure that that’s not all you’re doing.
For the sake of your mental and physical health, make sure that you’re getting some fresh air and moving your body throughout the day.
And if the winter months tend to get you down, then it’s even more important to prioritize your workouts and move your body around. Getting some exercise in will help you to clear your head and feel emotionally refreshed.
It’s also helpful to remember that moving your body around doesn’t have to mean over exerting yourself or doing a gut busting run. You can take a cue from winter’s quiet pace to do a gentler version of your warm weather workouts.
Below are some ideas on how to motivate and move your body during the winter months.
Motivate yourself with a winter workout calendar
If you want to motivate yourself to move your body during the winter, then write it down on a calendar or planner.
You’ll have the day and time blocked. And the visual reminder will encourage you to follow through on your plan. For added motivation, put a checkmark or X after each completed workout. Seeing your progress all lined up like that will motivate you to keep going.
Do gentler-paced workouts
In the winter, it’s hard to get yourself out of bed and go for a long, grueling run. So instead of forcing yourself to do a vigorous workout, opt for something that’s gentler, slower paced, and easier on your senses.
You can do yoga or morning stretches to get the blood flowing and the body moving. Or take long walks instead of runs. Or cycle indoors instead of out. And while emerging yourself in cold water might not sound very cozy, a swim in an indoor pool can be both invigorating and head clearing.
Invest in some winter outerwear
You may have heard the Scandinavian saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”
So when it comes to motivating yourself to move your body during the winter, you’ll definitely want to invest in some good quality winter attire to protect yourself from the elements.
The key to dressing properly for the winter is to dress in layers. Layering your clothing will keep you warm while also preventing you from overheating.The last thing you want to do is trap sweat and moisture in your body and clothes, and make yourself vulnerable to the elements.
So dress in layers and wear breathable fabric that wicks away sweat and moisture. Examples: merino wool or polyester.
Some other cold weather clothing essentials include:
- Insulated coat or jacket
- Waterproof boots and pants
- Fleece jacket
- Waterproof trail runners with good tread
- A scarf
- A hat
- Gloves
- Moisture-wicking socks
Having the right winter wear will make your winter walks, hikes, and runs a lot more pleasurable and safe.
Take a cozy, winter walk
A winter walk is one of life’s great, simple pleasures. The world feels so still and peaceful. And if you’ve been feeling groggy or “blah” there’s nothing like the cold air rushing against your cheeks to make you feel alive again.
And even though it gets dark early in the winter, it’s so pretty seeing all the glittering city lights against the dark night sky.
Go for a hike
A hike is another great way to move your body during the winter months. And while flowers may not be in bloom and the leaves have already fallen off the trees, there’s still so much to see when you’re outside.
With the barren trees, you get to see the woods from a different perspective. You’ll appreciate the sculptural look of the branches and the icicles hanging off of them. And you’ll have a more expansive view of fields and ridges that are normally shrouded by leaves in the warmer months.
Bare trees also mean you’ll also have an easier time spotting birds in the winter. Spotting a bright red canary on a gray winter’s day can really lift the spirits.
Take indoor walks
For those days when it’s too cold or blustery or wet to walk outside, head somewhere indoors to get your steps in.
Walk around an indoor mall. Spend an afternoon at a museum. Walk around an old historic house or church. You might even find a botanical garden with indoor greenhouses that you can walk around in and admire the plants.
Do online workouts
And for those days when it’s really hard to motivate and put on your winter clothes, then save yourself the hassle by doing an online workout at home.
You can find so many great workout videos on YouTube and find a class that matches your skill level and fitness goals. You also don’t need much in terms of equipment or space.
You’ll probably want a mat or towel for yoga, stretching, or anything that requires sitting or lying down
And a space where you can do squats, lunges, etc. Just make sure to move your couch or coffee table or other hard-edged furniture so that you don't accidentally knock into them.
Join a group class
A group workout class like a dance class or cardio class or yoga is a fun way to get your body moving during the winter.
The group setting will provide some much needed socializing and camaraderie during the winter doldrums. You’ll be more likely to commit to your fitness goals knowing that you’ve already paid for them. And if you want extra accountability, you can sign up for a class with a friend. You’ll feel much more motivated to go, knowing that there’s someone else who’s counting on you. Plus, working out, especially in winter, is just more fun when there are other people around.
Written by JiJi Lee
