The cold weather can make us feel sluggish. It can be hard to want to move your body when all you want to do is curl up under a warm blanket. However, even though the weather outside is frightful, it’s still important to stay active during the colder months. Thankfully, the Colorado Mountains offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy the weather outdoors, from skiing to mountain climbing, to snowboarding. Plus, if you’re not quite the outdoorsy type in the winter, there are still plenty of indoor alternatives to consider.
Get Your Daily Exercise
It’s recommended that you take the time to exercise for thirty minutes every day. Exercise can be anything from taking a thirty-minute walk to hitting the gym to even walking up that sledding hill. Any sort of constant movement counts. Daily exercise is good for your body, as well as your mental health. It can reduce stress and help you regulate your sleep cycle, which is crucial during the winter months. Working out doesn’t need to be complicated. If you aren’t a fan of the slopes, taking a simple walk outside can still have its benefits. The important part is that you make it a daily part of your routine.
Plan Your Workouts Ahead of Time
The benefit of creating a daily habit of exercise is that it makes it easier to schedule. If you take only thirty minutes out of your day to exercise, you can easily make it into a regular habit. Set aside some time to get ready for exercise, work out, and then decompress. Have an idea in mind what you want to do that day and what equipment you’ll need. You can plan out transportation to the gym or where you wish to work out in your house. Planning saves you work for later when you’re most likely to feel too overwhelmed to start and give up before you even get started.
Join a Work Out Group
You aren’t alone when struggling to stay active during colder weather. If you’re having a hard time finding the motivation on your own, try joining a class or working out with a friend. Having a group or a friend to hold you accountable can be enough incentive to stay active. You might even consider paying for winter classes. That way, you know that you’re actually losing money if you skip out on a course. Many gyms and studios offer free classes along with membership. Another idea is joining a martial arts dojo, an excellent alternative to regular indoor-style classes.
Stay Hydrated
You still need water even though it’s cold and you don’t sweat as much. Make sure to drink plenty of water no matter the activity. Whether you’re hitting the slopes or going for an afternoon run, make sure that you are still drinking enough water. Your water intake will affect how much energy you have while exercising and how safely you exercise.
Have a Backup Plan
Inclement weather might ruin your exercise plans for the day. A full-on snowstorm might not be the best weather to jog in. Have a backup plan if you might be in for some horrible weather conditions or classes get canceled. If your session gets snowed out, have a workout plan for the home. If it’s too cold to run, find a fun exercise video to try. Always include plenty of alternatives and variety in your workouts to keep things consistent and exciting.
Get Your Body Moving If You Feel Tired
During the mornings and the evenings when the sun is nowhere to be found, you’ll find yourself devoid of energy. This might become a problem if you need to get up early or it’s too early to go to sleep. Consider scheduling your exercise before or after work to fight that sluggish winter feeling. Exercise can actually wake your body up and give you an energy boost. Incorporating exercise into your day to fight off the urge to nap will help you stay more productive instead of sleeping all day.
Your Body Will Thank You
It might be tempting to hibernate like a bear in the winter, but staying active will keep up the healthy habits established in the warmer months and keep you feeling good throughout the dreary weather. Many experience a drop in mood during the colder months, but staying physically active despite the cold and lack of sun keep you regulated. Taking just thirty minutes or more out of your day to move your body can have an enormous impact on your mental and physical health.
Working out in the winter months can feel like a chore to some. Without the sun and warm temperatures, going for a run outside can feel intimidating. Winter sports might also not be your thing. Regardless of your preferences, it’s still recommended to remain active during the winter for at least thirty minutes every day. If you are not a fan of winter sports or you don’t like the idea of running in the cold, you’ll need to be creative with your winter workout plan. There is plenty to do indoors. Work out in your living room or join a class. Find a workout buddy who dislikes working out in the winter as much as you but understands how important it is to stay active. Prepare a backup plan for when the weather turns ugly.
To learn more about winter exercise at Jaywalker Lodge, call us today at (866) 529-9255.
As Chief Executive Officer Bill provides leadership and manage all day-to-day operations of Jaywalker Lodge, an extended care residential addiction treatment program for adult men.
