Beat the winter blues: week 2
The winter months can be hard on your body and mind. It is easy to get into a rut and not want to do anything, but I am sharing a weekly series of tips that I actively use to stay motivated and inspired and avoid the winter blues.
Let’s go!
Last week’s Entry 1 (Recap): Get ahead of Spring Cleaning
Winter is the perfect time to stay active and healthy. I've found that changing up my workouts has helped me stay active and motivated during the colder months. Here are some ideas for staying motivated during the winter:
Week 2: Try a new sport or workout for motivation during the winter.
If you’re struggling to keep up with your fitness routine during the winter, consider trying a new sport or workout. You don’t have to commit yourself 100%—just try something new and see if it works for you.
I’ve recently added Lagree to my weekly workouts, and I love the way it is challenging me in new ways. Lagree uses complex movements that target multiple muscle groups in each exercise and focuses on slow, controlled motion.
I’ve also committed to regular, everyday morning meditation - using a timer so I have continue to grow and lengthen my practice.
What will you add or try this season?
Here are some tips on how to pick out an activity that works for your lifestyle:
Find something that is new, fun and challenging. You want it to be enjoyable so that it motivates you, but also challenging enough so that things don’t get boring quickly. Try different kinds of workouts until one clicks with you; then stick with it!
Try something active enough for your fitness level but not so intense that it hurts or leaves bruises afterward (if possible).
Winter can be a tough time for many people. The cold weather, shorter days and heavier workloads make it easy to feel unmotivated and depressed.
In order to stay positive during this time of year, try finding something new to do outside on nice days in an active way.
For example:
Explore new neighbourhoods
Try out new coffee shops on the other side of town
Bundle up and go for a local hike
Walk through nature
Make it a group activity to motivate yourself to get outside or attempt something new.
Make it a group activity to motivate yourself to get outside or attempt something new.
If you're tired of the same old treadmill routine and looking for motivation, try finding a workout buddy! Whether it's a friend or family member or even someone at your gym who is interested in trying something new with you, having someone else there will make exercising more fun, plus they'll help push you through those tough moments when you're tempted to quit.
Trying new things can be intimidating and difficult if we're faced with doing them alone, so if getting outside and moving around doesn't sound too appealing right now (or the weather is preventing you from doing this), try looking at indoor options that might interest both of you instead: swimming laps at the local community center pool; dance classes like Zumba or hip hop aerobics; yoga classes—there are so many options!
I hope that this list of ideas has given you some inspiration for staying active in the winter. As we mentioned earlier, there are many different ways to stay motivated and stay active. The most important thing is finding something that works for you and making it fun! If that means taking a class or joining some sort of group activity with friends, then do so. If it means trying a new sport like cross country skiing or snowshoeing or even just heading outside for some fresh air, go for it!