Winterize Your Workout
It can be a struggle to stick to your workout routine as the days get shorter and colder.
Here are a few tips to help make exercising easier during the winter months!
There are many reasons why people have a hard time staying motivated to stick to their fitness routine in the winter months - so if you’re having a hard time, you’re not alone!
Winter workouts can come with added discomfort - cold and wet fingers and toes, muscles that feel tighter than usual, wet hair that you have to blow-dry to avoid it forming icicles on the way home...the list goes on and on!
Another important factor that we can’t dismiss is the shortening of the days - we not only experience a drop in the temperature in winter, we experience a later sunrise and earlier sunset. This doesn’t just make it harder to get out of bed to get those workouts in - it also creates a safety issue for those who do outdoor activities such as running and cycling.
So I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite tips to help you stay active, even when the weather isn’t ideal.
For those who feel like their options are limited when they can’t exercise outdoors: try taking an adventurous approach, and using this time to explore types of workouts that you normally might not gravitate towards. ClassPass is a great tool for expanding your activity palate, and you might discover a class, instructor, or workout that you want to add to your regular rotation.
For people who enjoy winter sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating: incorporate workouts that prepare you for these activities - knowing that you have plans to hit the slopes in a few weeks can certainly be the extra motivation you need to incorporate sport-specific workouts!
For those who lose motivation when it’s dark by the time they leave work: find an accountability partner (or partners). This can look like attending a class or going to the gym with a colleague after work, signing up for a team or league, or simply agreeing to do the same online workout at the same time as a friend.
For people (like me) who spend each winter thinking about how they need to move somewhere tropical: I personally love to include some version of hot yoga in my winter workouts. It always feels so good to go into a heated room after being out in the cold, and helps me release some of the tension my muscles hold when I’m uncomfortably chilly. (I hear from friends and clients that heated Pilates classes are great too!)
For those training for an outdoor event: lean into the seasonality of not only the weather, but of sports as well. Competitive athletes typically have an off-season, pre-season, in-season, and post-season - and the training they do changes based on the demands of the season. So, for my outdoor athletes, I often treat winter as the off-season - a time to focus on building strength and power that will serve them when they return to their sport of choice.
For those who need a little treat to stay motivated: I try to trend toward minimalism, but winter accessories are a must for my outdoor workouts. My personal favorite purchase is a pair of rechargeable heated gloves! I use these both for outdoor running, and for walking Luna, my teeny sled dog who loves long winter walks. With the sun setting before 5 pm these days, I also use a reflective vest for running.
