We'll be spending less time outside our homes because of the cold, wind and snow, so it’s more important than ever to prioritize physical health. We all know that working out and staying active can boost your mood and reduce stress. The challenge is getting motivated, staying consistent and developing a workout routine equal to the gym.
Here is my top Winter Fitness Tips:
Winter Fitness Tips
1. Team-Up / Buddy System
There's nothing like having a buddy system where that person will text you every morning to churn you on to get out of bed and do that routine! You need to surround yourself with others who can help enhance your skills and compensate for your weaknesses.
2. Create a Dedicated Space For Your Workout At Home
If you're self-motivated, you'll exercise no matter what. Working out at home is comfortable and affordable. There's a lot more variety. You can go outside, do exercise videos, stream live classes, or download workout apps. You can mix and match all you want—putting weights and cardio together and then yoga.
Need to Have
You'll need some basic equipment to provide resistance. You may consider one or all of the following pieces of equipment from the list below.
Dumbbells
Medicine ball
Resistance bands
3. Respect and Do Your Body Right
Getting outside for exercise helps you connect with your mind, body and nature. Whatever fitness level you're at, almost everyone can walk outside. Change up the routine by setting a schedule and goals. For example, I like walking destinations. For example, a 5k walk to the mall is fun, and I can get almost anyone to join me!
Besides exercising, keep a journal to track what you eat. Maintaining a well-balanced diet can sometimes be challenging when you've been hit with lots of snow days. On the other hand, when you make it a point to eat foods that boost your energy and focus, such as almonds, salmon, kale, and eggs, it can make a huge difference in your mood and outlook on life.
And, make sure that you get six to eight hours of quality of sleep each night. You can’t keep the momentum going when you’re yawning all day.
4. Keep Up Your Sleep Routine
Sleep influences our moods. Without proper and regular sleep, our rhythm can get disrupted, which also disrupts our cortisol rhythms and impacts hormone production.
Here are a few tips to improve your sleep and, hopefully, to improve your mood!
Go to bed and wake up at the same time.
Follow a bedtime routine to help your body start to relax. Reading 30 minutes before bedtime, taking a bath, restorative yoga or drinking a cup of herbal tea can help signal your body it's time to rest.
Expose yourself to light as soon as you wake up
Sleep in a cool, dark room
Don’t use electronics in your bedroom.
5. Set Specific Short-Term Goals
Even though you may not follow a weekly training schedule, you'll still need short-term goals to keep you motivated.
When you don’t have specific goals to work toward, it’s easy to blow off exercise for days and weeks. Before you know it, you’ve lost a lot of fitness. Pick a couple of weekly goals, such as doing yoga or strength-training twice a week, and plan the days when you’ll do them. Having a structure for your week will make you more likely to stick to your workouts.
6. Do Regular Strength Training
The Winter season can be a time to hibernate. Instead, change things up and focus on your strength training now to help ramp up your fitness goals for this spring.
Ideally, commit to four to five sessions of strengthening a week. You'll find lots of great weight training programs on YouTube. Start easy and build up. Do a mix of bodyweight, lower body and core exercises for 15 to 20 minutes.
If you find you're having a hard time getting started, perhaps consider starting with a private trainer. Learn more about my services here.
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