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The changing of the seasons can be a beautiful time of year, but it can be devastating for a regular exercise regime. Once the weather starts to get a bit colder, the idea of working out outside can seem a little unpleasant. Without a winter plan ready to put into action, a couple days of inactivity due to bad weather can turn into months without any exercise.
Fortunately, if you are at risk of falling into the “winter inactivity” trap, there are a number of ways you can plan to stay active. Just because it is too chilly to go for a run outside doesn’t mean there are not plenty of other ways to get quality exercise hours in each day. Many of them don’t even require four months of treadmill time.
Regular exercise during all seasons of the year is critical to your long-term health, and lack of exercise is considered one of the major threats to the health of most people in developed countries. Keeping up a routine all year can be the difference between putting on a few extra pounds and staying fit and fabulous throughout life.
Set Up a Home Fitness Routine
Perhaps the easiest way to stay active during the winter — especially if you are on a budget — is to start working up a home fitness routine. Your routine can be relatively simple and include exercises that use your own bodyweight to build strength such as push-ups, planks, and lunges. A few simple pieces of equipment such as a jump rope, an exercise ball, and a couple of dumbbells can help kick your routine up a notch.
If you live in an apartment complex, you may even get the benefit of using the apartment’s gym for free. This can mean a whole variety of weight lifting and indoor cardio opportunities await you. Of course, nobody wants to spend an entire winter going only to a gym, but it can be a great place to spend a couple days a week for exercise.
Getting enough exercise at the right time of the day can make a significant difference in your quality of life. In particular, it can really benefit your sleep routines, especially if you have a hard time falling asleep. Many scientists have linked even simple home workouts to better quality sleep overall, which can have profound long-lasting benefits.
Try a New Fitness Class
Sometimes the home workout location can get a bit dull and start lacking a certain inspiration necessary to get off the couch and workout. This can be the ideal time to start looking into fitness classes! There are literally hundreds of different types of classes, such as lap swimming, yoga, and karate.
Trying different classes can open you up to a wide range of experiences and opportunities, and it could even help you discover a new activity to be passionate about. You could find that your new pilates class or kickboxing workouts are the best thing since sliced bread. There are usually a lot of people in these classes, which can also make it easier to meet new workout buddies. Plus, if you’re not enjoying the class, you’re under no obligation to go back.
If you are thinking about trying a new class, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Determine if you like the instructor and whether or not he or she gets you pumped to work out. Also consider the quality of equipment used in class and if you understand how to use it safely.
Pick Up a Winter Activity
Finally, if the idea of a gym everyday hurts your soul a little and you find you’re not really interested in classes, you could always pick up a fun winter activity that keeps you active. There are all sorts of winter sports such as downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or ice skating. All of these can also be great winter workouts.
Depending upon your desired activity level and experience, you could easily use any winter activity to meet your fitness goals. For example, downhill skiing and snowboarding not only give you a fair amount of adrenaline, but they also work the body from head to toe and everything in between. Alternatively, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are fairly low impact and are considered lifetime sports that can be done relatively cheaply almost anywhere outdoorsy.
If you are the type that needs to be outdoors to work out, these might be ideal winter hobbies for you. They can often also be easily done with a friend, which adds a nice social element to winter outdoor exercise. Some communities even put together groups of people who participate in the activities together or teach beginners the tricks of the trade.
Winter can be a tough time to remain active and stick to a workout routine. Luckily, there are a number of great options to keep you moving through the colder months. Figuring out a home workout routine, attending fitness classes, and finding a new cold-weather outdoor hobby are all great ways to keep up your activity levels.
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