It can be tough to stay motivated leave the house (let alone hit the gym) once temperatures start to fall. There are plenty of ways to spice things up and stay motivated toward your health and fitness goals, so you can keep going no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.
People are driven by different things to keep them moving, and making a change to your exercise routine for winter can come in many forms. Here are some examples.
Switch up your workouts
Periodization is an approach where you change up your workouts (ie. reps, sets, rest times) every 4-8 weeks to prevent yourself from plateauing, becoming bored, overtraining or sustaining an injury. It also promotes increased strength and overall fitness.
The changing seasons can be a great natural clock to help you switch your workout program and introduce (or sustain) a periodized workout plan. The same way we use daylight savings as a reminder to check our home smoke alarms, we can review and reset our workout routine as the seasons change.
Train for next season
For athletes, sports always have an off season. Whether you're an athlete or not, you can take certain seasons to improve your conditioning or build strength to advance your capabilities. But if you’re spending time in the gym during your off season, be sure to work on overall conditioning and stretching. Try not to focus only on the muscle groups that you use while playing.
Supplement your regular workouts
With winter comes a different set of challenges and responsibilities. December tends to be hectic with festive activities, which could make it harder to hit the gym regularly. The rest of the season, you may have to shovel the driveway before leaving home, or trudge through snow to get to the office. Try to embrace these winter weather challenges to supplement your workouts.
Revisit your favourite summertime activities to vent stress
The gym can provide opportunities to mimic warm weather activities you may be missing, or just try out new activities to keep things interesting and blow off steam. If you enjoy bike riding but your bike is in storage for the winter, give RPM a try. Maybe you’re gearing up for a holiday work party - dust off those dance moves with some Zumba, SH’BAM or any of the other GoodLife dance classes. Dancing releases endorphins in the body, which can reduce stress. If you’re feeling particularly stressed, decompress with a Mind & Body class.
Get some frosty fulfillment
You may want to mix up your gym routine with an outdoor winter workout. It’s a great way to reconnect with nature, just be sure to approach the chillier temperatures safely.
Dress to stay warm and dry! Layer up, particularly on the fingers, ears, nose and toes, because they are most affected by ultra-low temperatures. Keep your skin moisturized to combat the dry winter air, and don’t forget your sunscreen! Be aware of slippery conditions, make sure footwear is weather appropriate, and stick to plowed and salted surfaces. Wrapping a scarf around your mouth can hold water vapor and avoid painful heavy breathing when your airway is narrowed by the cold. And even though you may feel less thirsty when cold, your body still needs that water, so drink up!
Wintertime can be a great opportunity to try new and different things when it comes to your health and fitness goals.