Five simple steps to stay active during the Winter!
Winter can be a difficult time to stay physically active. We generally want to sleep more, eat more high calorie foods and stay warm. Here are a few steps you can take to keep you and your family active during the colder months of the year.
Think of your year in cycles of training - spend the winter months doing more calm and reflective activities that help you stay healthy but that also honor our natural tendency to want to hibernate. Some good activities are: yoga, strength training, walking, hiking, snow-shoeing, dancing, cycling, and other indoor activities.
Have a buddy or family member work out with you - this prevents you from skipping activities.
Be accountable to a group - this sometimes is even more powerful than one other person because you know they are all counting on you to show up for the activity. Make yourself responsible for some aspect of the group activity so that you have to show up e.g. bringing them drinks, snacks, organizing the carpool or something.
If possible try and work out in the middle of the day when it's warmer and brighter. This will give you more energy and prevent you from skipping out of workouts because of the dark.
Change up your routine during the winter e.g. do new activities that keep you engaged in learning. This gives you permission to "not be good" at something. Just enjoy the learning process!
