Cold-Weather Workout Tips: How To Get Motivated In Winter
It can be difficult to find the motivation to work out sometimes, and when the weather is very cold, it can be next to impossible. Being stuck indoors for your exercise time can be hard, especially when you don’t have the money for a gym membership. Not only can it be difficult to find the space, time, or energy to get in a workout at home, but once you find a routine you like, it can get boring if you can’t change it up a bit by heading outside. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get around these issues; the key is to prepare and think outside the box a bit. You can create your own inexpensive home gym, or incorporate some playtime with your children into a workout that gets your heart rate up. Finding ways to make exercise fun will make you forget all about having to do it inside when the temperatures drop!
It’s important to work around these obstacles; not only does exercise reduce stress, but it also boosts your positive, motivating emotions, too. Part of this is biology — the body is regulating itself during exercise, but it also has to do with seeing and feeling the results of your efforts. Here are a few tips on finding the motivation and means to exercise in winter not just for your physical health, but also for your mental well-being.
Find motivation in knowledge
Knowing how the human body reacts to certain stimuli can help you have a better understanding of what you need to be healthy. For instance, if you’ve ever battled substance abuse, it may help you find motivation to learn about all the ways exercise can help you heal and recover. Not only can it make you more physically fit, it can help boost your self-confidence and replace the euphoria you once got from substances with a natural feeling of happiness.
Build a home gym
You don’t have to be rich to have a home gym of your own. Depending on the amount of space you have and what your needs are, you can include a few simple tools that will help you stay fit no matter what the weather is like. A resistance band, a stability ball, a yoga mat, and some free weights can go a long way toward helping you meet your fitness goals. Choose a spot in your home that will give you some room to move and try to keep it free of distractions.
Make it fun
Mixing exercise with something you enjoy doing can make the time go by faster and trick your brain into thinking a workout is fun, so think about some ways you can get active and have a good time. Swimming, dancing, and playing sports are all great ways to get your heart rate up, and they’re also things you can do with your family, which means you can spend quality time with your children while you’re getting fit.
Make time
Sometimes, in winter it feels like we get up when it’s dark outside and come home after sunset, with little to no light in between. It can be hard to find motivation for anything when the days seem so short, but the key is to make time. Get up and get moving on your lunch break, or set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier than usual and do some yoga stretches to wake up.
When it comes to getting fit — and staying that way — it’s essential to find what works for you and to stick with it. Don’t pay attention to what everyone else is doing; instead, focus on what makes you feel good and what works with your schedule. This is the best way to keep your routine no matter what the weather is doing.
Contributed by,
Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis is passionate about helping seniors stay healthy and injury-free. He created StrongWell to share his tips on senior fitness.