I’m sure i’m not the only one who struggles to stay motivated during winter.
When the weather’s dark and dreary, it’s easy to ditch your workout for a cosy night in with a cup of tea (or wine) and a Netflix marathon. Somehow our lazy head takes over and although we may want to go break a sweat, it’s just so hard to motivate ourselves to get out the door.
When i’m tired or i’ve had a tough day, I’ll try to find every excuse not to train. I’ll tell myself that I don’t need to go, or that i’ll just work harder the next day. Or, that I don’t need a gym to make me feel good about myself. And all of those are valid excuses, but at the end of the day, they’re still excuses. C’mon, do you guys do this? Or am I the only one?
As much as we try and fight it, the reality is that working out make us feel good! It releases endorphins, helps to beat stress and gets our blood pumping. Plus, it has its aesthetic benefits too. Training can be a challenge in winter, but when you make it fun, it becomes much easier to stick at it. Here are a few easy and fun ways to keep fit and stay motivated during the dreary winter months.
Plan Your Sessions
One of the best ways to keep yourself on track is to create a fitness plan. At the beginning of each week, plan when you’re going to fit in your workouts and make it a priority. When you’re in the groove of exercising 3-5 times a week, you’ll be less inclined to skip your sessions because you’ll feel guilty about breaking your routine.
Get A Buddy Involved
Whether it’s your best friend, partner or work colleague, getting someone else involved is a foolproof way to help you stay fit and motivated. Working out with a buddy will make training much more fun, and you’re less likely to bail if you know that someone else is relying on you.
Embrace The Cold
A great way to keep fit and stay motivated during winter is to just get out there and embrace the cold. Whether it’s a weekend hike, ice skating, skiing or running, getting outside will boost your Vit D levels, help to beat those winter blues and keep you fit.
Find A New Class
Change up your routine and find some fun fitness classes to help you stay motivated. Sign up to something like Class Pass, which allows you to access a network of studios and try out different classes across the city. You’ll beat the boredom as you’ll get to try something new every week, and you’ll probably push yourself more during your sessions as you’ll be working out alongside others.
Invest In New Workout Gear
Nothing will make you want to workout more than some new active gear. Shop around and get yourself some stylish base layers to fight off the chill. If you’re planning to start/continue running or cycling outdoors, make sure you invest in reflective tape to keep you safe when you’re out on the roads.
(Top: Nike / Leggings: Public Myth)
Workout From Home
If you really can’t bear to leave the house, there are plenty of intensive workouts you can do from home. There are a ton of good videos on YouTube – I’ve always liked Jillian Michael’s BeFit programs – and I swear by Shaun T’s Insanity workouts which are a-mazing. You’re probably wondering how fit you can actually get from your living room…and the answer is, REALLY fit! Insanity is super intensive and it’ll whip you into shape in no time.
Create Fitness Goals
You won’t get very far unless you’ve got a goal to work towards. Set yourself monthly targets to give yourself a focus. Your goal might be to manage a set number of push-ups, shave time off your 5k PB or to master a crazy exercise that you’ve always found too difficult to complete. Whatever your goal is, make sure it’s specific, measurable and time-sensitive. These types of goals are easy to track so you can manage your progress to see how far you’ve come.
What are your best tips to stay motivated during winter? Drop me a comment in the box below!
1 Comment
Yes, for you to stay motivated and focus, you just gotta have to go out there and do it. I feel REALLY lazy before I work out but when I’m already working out, I just continue doing diff workouts and in the end it was all worth it.
Love, Fads