Keeping Motivated This Winter

 

As October draws to a close and the clocks go back, Halloween will come and go and the winter will officially begin. Events that were goal setters for the year are over. Christmas decorations will fly up much too early for most people’s liking. And the mornings and evenings will become crisp, dark and cold. It’s often the time of year that many people go into an exercise hibernation.

Those cosy nights under a thousand duvets, with the fire lighting and a selection box to hand might sound oh so sweet now, but blink and summer will be around the corner. You won’t have stepped foot near a gym in months and will have to work even harder to get that summer body back in tip top nick. But here’s a few idea’s to get motivated and stay in good condition all winter long.

Grab a buddy.

Having a workout buddy to give you that extra motivation to get out and endure the elements over the winter can really help. So whether it’s a friend, housemate, or work colleague, bounce off each others energy and get moving.

Make it part of your routine.

Pick a time of day, morning or evening and head to the gym. Or go for a lunch time run with a colleague. Running in daylight will gain you exposure to some Vitamin D which is good for bones, skin and muscles.

Sure goals are great, but when the motivation isn’t entirely there in the winter, focus on using exercise to make you feeling good instead of looking good.

 

Join a class

Often the hardest part about going to the gym is putting your foot in the door. Joining a class can be a good motivational idea if you’re not that pushed about working out without any specific goal over the winter. Whether that’s a crossfit, boxercise, spinning or circuit class, you’ll find some way of staying in shape.

The Trap

Another Idea is to book yourself into a class or event that has a booking and a cancellation fee. This will add that little bit of extra motivation for you to attend and make the most out of it.

Get in Gear

With the winter morning and nights getting increasingly darker and colder, you’ll probably love to be curled up in bed or on the couch instead of going for a run. But getting the right gear, a technical baselayer, running tights or a fleece can help in you not feeling the elements so much and make you enjoy your workout a bit more. Gloves and hats too cover the extremities are worthwhile investments too.

Be Safe, Be Seen 

Alongside all of this, being visible is essential for winter running. It’ll give you confidence that you’ll be Okay to exercise outdoors in the dark. There’s two types of visibility here; Too see & Too be seen. Clothing that’s fluorescent or that has reflective strips are ideal but a headlamp or flashing armbands are great too. Similarly if you’re a cyclist, investing in a set of bike lights shouldn’t be a option, its a necessity.

Don’t keep focusing on the scales

Try not to focus so much on getting down to a specific weight or getting as lean as possible. Sure goals are great, but when the motivation isn’t entirely there in the winter, focus on using exercise to make you feeling good instead of looking good. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real thing. So beat away the winter blues with exercise that makes you happy. After all, there are several studies show that show the links between exercise and better moods, like this one.

Try something new, like yoga.

Sometimes change is good. So why not try something different to entertain you. Join a yoga class if you haven’t done it before. Yoga can help with your mind and your soul as well as your body. Research has shown that joint pain can peak in the winter months, especially with the colder morning and evenings. Yoga exercises and poses maintains joint mobility and increases circulation while loosening stiffness within the joints. It’s an effective relief for muscle and joint pain throughout the winter months and definitely worth a try.

 

Enter an Event for Early Next Year

Winter marks the end of event season in a lot of sports. But entries for events next year are already open. By committing to an event in running, adventure race or cycling sportif, you’ll gain the motivation to stay fit. Here on Activiti, we’ve got plenty of events for you to have a look at and get involved in, check them out here.

Workout at home

With workout apps flooding the app and play store, there’s plenty of online platforms that can assist you doing a few exercises from your living room or bedroom. Some apps can link up to a smart tv and you can participate in a vitual class from your living room, perfect for when its chucking it down outside!

So away with the excuses, there’s plenty of ideas out there to keep you motivated and stay shape all winter long!