It is so easy to lose motivation to exercise when the temperatures start to plummet. The truth is, it’s easier to become a couch potato until springtime. However, staying motivated to exercise during winter time is possible if you know how.
It isn’t necessary to let the cold temperatures stop you from getting and staying in shape. Think about creative ways to stay active on a daily basis rather than simply being convinced you have to go to the gym or complete certain behaviors as exercise. By following these tips, you can learn what you can do to stay motivated to exercise even if it’s below zero.
Consider the prospect of driving to a gym, working out and then driving home during the winter months. By the time you arrive, you may not even be interested in working out any longer. It’s no wonder many people lose their motivation to exercise.
Now think about the freedom you feel when exercising outdoors. You feel the wind in your face and the sun on your back. That’s part of the appeal of working out during the summer. You can still enjoy outdoor exercising in the winter as long as you take precautions to stay warm.
Many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition is caused during the winter months where the days are shorter. Maintaining regular exercise, even if you don’t feel like it, can actually reduce the symptoms of SAD. Exercising, particularly outdoors, can increase your energy and prevent colds.
It isn’t uncommon for people to gain weight during winter. You may splurge during the holidays but exercising can help you avoid weight gain. If you don’t gain the weight in the first place, you’ll be well on your way to being swimsuit ready come spring.
You can also keep exercising as a way to preserve or improve your health. Exercising tones muscles, improves metabolism so you burn more calories and increases cardiovascular strength. Thirty minutes three days a week is all it takes to see the benefits of exercising.
Ask a friend or family member to join you. Exercising alone can be frustrating and lonely but having someone to exercise with can be much more fun. On those days when you don’t feel like exercising, your exercise partner can motivate you to keep going.
Set some exercise goals for yourself – whether it’s losing 10 pounds, running a marathon or being fit enough to go mountain climbing. Knowing you have to train so many days a week to meet those goals will give you the motivation you need.
You know how important exercise is to maintaining your health. Unfortunately it’s easy to get discouraged when the temperatures fall. Staying motivated to exercise during wintertime months is possible if it’s something important to you. Thinking back over the above ideas, are you now more motivated to exercise? If so, what are you waiting for?
