As the temperature drops and we fall into Winter, staying motivated to exercise can seem like an up-hill battle. While the thought of leaving the comforts of our homes over the cooler months may send shivers through our bodies, we are designed for movement, so we want to help you find your inspiration to keep moving during winter.
- Prepare Yourself
If you like to squeeze in your exercise before the day really starts, a great way to stay on track is to make preparations. This can be as simple as setting out your exercise gear the night before so you can roll out of bed and right into your clothes, writing down an exercise plan beforehand so you’re committing yourself, or even making plans with a friend to work out together. Preparing yourself puts you in the right mindset of “I will”, and having some sort of written or verbal plan makes you more likely to commit when the time comes.
- Stretch & Warm Up
This one may seem obvious but there are still large amounts of people who confess to rarely stretching before and/or after exercise! While stretching should always form part of your normal work out routine, it is even more important to warm your body up during winter. When it’s cold, your muscles constrict and tighten, making them more prone to cramps, spasm, and injury (like muscle strains) when you do decide to start moving your body.
- Take Advantage of Sunlight Hours
We are fortunate here in Brisbane that while the non-sunlit hours may make our teeth chatter, the average daily temperature during winter range from 11 – 21°C. So if the thought of early morning or evening exercise doesn’t appeal to you, take advantage of the perfect mid-morning to mid-afternoon highs and get yourself some sorely needed vitamin D! If you’re part of the 9-5 grind, try taking a walk during your lunch break, or scheduling some time on the weekends for your sunshine dose.
- Plan Indoor Activities
So you don’t want to be outside when it’s cold? Completely understandable, thankfully there’s a huge array of indoor activities that can keep you warm. Whether it’s doing a workout at home (try looking up free exercise plans or YouTube videos), heading to the gym, or trying something new like hot yoga, dance classes, or indoor swimming, there’s really no excuses for throwing away your hard earned summer body.
- Realise the Benefits
While the health and immune benefits of exercise are well documented, did you know that your heart is actually working harder during winter? When the temperature drops, your heart has to beat faster to keep you warm, so not only will you strengthen your heart (ideal for when you’re ready to take your training to the next level), but you’ll also burn more calories while you work out AND produce more endorphins (hormones released in the brain that reduce pain and make you feel more relaxed and energised), an easy way to boost your mood if you’re prone to some winter blues.
