10 ways to stay active this winter

Do you find it hard to stay motivated to exercise when it’s cold? As tempting as it is to want to just snuggle up in bed, hit snooze, order food in and watch a movie instead – staying active in the colder months of the year is an important part of staying healthy and happy. Here are 10 fun ways to stay motivated to be active this winter:

After a musculoskeletal screening before you begin training – Book Initial Physio Appointment Here

1. Set an alarm and place it out of reach
   Snooze-offender? Set a time you are going to wake up in the morning and keep your alarm out of reach so that you have to get up out of bed to get to it.
2. Set a 30-day challenge
   Set a challenge for yourself and write it down. Set small goals for each day and bigger goals to work towards. Maybe it could be going for 30-minute walk each day? Or just staying consistent with whatever training you enjoy. Whatever it may be, set a time-frame and write it down to keep yourself on track.
3. Keep up a routine
   Set a routine and stick to it. Would you skip brushing your teeth each day? Hopefully not! Take out the decision-making process. When something becomes a routine, it becomes a habit and consequently becomes a lot easier to complete.
4. Wear a sweater
   Warm-up inside by setting a space – grab a yoga mat, put on a jumper and do a couple of exercises to get yourself warmed-up before heading outside.
5. Do an online workout at home (check with us beforehand for suitability!)
   Don’t like gyms? No problem. Do a workout at home! If you need some inspiration for what exercises to do there are plenty of free workout videos on the internet to give you ideas. Not sure if the videos are suitable, come in and speak with us, we are here to help!
6. Take up an indoor winter hobby
   Winter is the perfect time for indoor sports, especially with the shorter days if you start early or work late (or both!). Some indoor hobbies include – indoor rock-climbing, dance classes, martial arts training, the list goes on.
7. Take an exercise class
   If you struggle to stay motivated – try involving yourself in group exercises classes to stay on track. Join a running group, try yoga, pilates, boxing, functional fitness, HIIT training, strength training, tai chi, Zumba, – again, the list is endless.
8. Walk and Talk
   Need to call someone? Grab your phone and walk as you talk. Better yet, catch-up with them in person and go for walk as you chat away.
9. Adventure outside – we are surrounded by natural beauty!
   Make use of the daylight hours since it is not so hot! Go for a run, go to a park, go on a hike, go on an adventure and enjoy the fresh air.
10. Rope in a friend
    A great way to stay on track with fitness is to do it with a friend. It’s fun, sociable, and it helps to keep you accountable with your training.

We hope these ideas help you keep active this winter. As always we are here to help so let our team know if you have any issues!

After a musculoskeletal screening before you begin training – Book Initial Physio Appointment Here