Fitness
Winter Workouts: What You Need to Know to Stay Motivated
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The winter season is here. With dropped temperatures and a 4:30pm sunset, the thought of working out can be far from your mind. Why? Because curling up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate sounds like the best treat!
While I would never tell you to turn down a yummy cup of hot chocolate, I want to make sure the cold weather doesn’t stop you from getting up and moving. Here are four ways you can stay motivated to work out during the winter season.
Set a spring goal.
Let's be real - it’s easier to stay on track when you've got your eyes on the prize. Consider signing yourself up for a spring half marathon, charity run, or a fun fitness event like a Spartan Race or Tough Mudder. Aim to challenge yourself to do a certain number of push-ups or pull-ups by the end of the winter. Goals like these require preparation and commitment and will give you a reason to workout. I would encourage you to break down your big goal into mini goals that you can tick off week by week to keep yourself motivated and a step closer to your big goal!
Try something new.
One of the fastest ways to lose motivation to work out in the winter is boredom. If you’ve been doing the same type of workout every day for months and haven’t been getting as excited about it, switch things up. Keep your body guessing! Have you ever taken a Pilates class? How about HIIT? When was the last time you swam laps in an indoor pool? Use the winter season as a time to experiment with new classes or activities you haven’t tried before. I personally aim to try a new class once a week. The MINDBODY app makes it easy for me to explore new classes without committing to a monthly membership.
Be prepared.
If you’re going to work out in the morning, set your clothes out the night before so that you don’t have to do any thinking when you wake up. You won’t have as many excuses if you’re all packed and ready to go first thing in the morning. Not a morning person? That’s alright! Pack everything you need for a lunch or evening workout. Schedule it like you would a work meeting or drinks with friends—you wouldn’t bail on them, so don’t bail on yourself!
Get a workout buddy.
Getting off the couch to work out in the winter (or any time for that matter) is much easier when you have a friend by your side. By scheduling an outdoor run, gym time, or fitness classes throughout the week, you and your workout buddy will hold each other accountable. No one wants to be a no-show when their buddy is depending on them!
Searching for fitness motivation? Follow Ariel at @gymhooky for healthy recipes, workouts, and lifestyle tips!
