By Jennifer McGregor, Contributor
It’s cold. Maybe it’s raining or snowing. Whether it’s inclement weather or simply the fact that it’s cold enough to see your breath and make your toes tingle, it can be difficult to stay motivated during the winter months. With these tips, you can beat the chill and the desire to hibernate and stay on top of your health this season.
Indoor Interval Training
If you find yourself short on time (or motivation), it has been suggested that interval training can be an excellent way to get more out of exercise in shorter bursts. Interval training emphasizes small stints of intense workouts. It is thought to burn more calories, increase your endurance, and be healthy for your heart. One of the benefits of interval training is that there are many ways to do it, including in the comfort of your own home. You don’t necessarily need any gear but a good pair of running shoes and some comfortable clothes, so it’s a fabulous way to begin an exercise regimen.
Abdominal Exercise
Part of the problem with winter is actually making yourself go outside, where you know it will be cold. One of the nice things about abdominal workouts is that it is an activity that you can do on your living room floor. Crunches, sit-ups, and leg lifts are all workouts you can do from the comfort of your carpet to keep in shape and healthy during the coldest months of the year.
Bodyweight Exercises
You don’t need a gym membership, expensive equipment, or fancy gear to get a good workout in, even if your goal isn’t aerobics but weight work. You have the best set of weights available to a person. You have your own body. Another benefit to workout routines that focus on using your own weight to define your muscles is that they often have aerobic aspects, so they may be good for your heart too. Clear out your living room, make room in your bedroom, or even use the open space of your kitchen to do some excellent bodyweight workouts in the convenience of your own house.
Yoga Routine
Studies have suggested that yoga is not only an excellent form of exercise, but a great way to keep your mental health and sleep patterns stable. Whether it’s the lack of sunlight and vitamin D or seasonal affective disorder, winter can be brutal on our emotions and our bodies. Yoga is an excellent tool to keep yourself healthy in every sense of the word. It can be done anywhere you have enough floor space to stretch out your body. A mat is helpful, as is a yoga block if you’re just starting out, but none of those are necessary. You only need some comfortable clothes and, perhaps, a towel to aid in some of the more difficult stretches. If you don’t know where to start, YouTube is a great source for yoga routines for beginners.
Start Swimming
If you’re looking to still get out of the house and establish a low-impact workout plan, look no further than starting to swim. There are many indoor pools available for swimming. It’s thought to be excellent exercise for your overall health, from your heart, to your muscles, to even aiding in lowering your stress levels. It’s easy on your joints, but still offers incredible benefits.
Set Up a Home Gym
If you want to keep yourself motivated to work out during the colder months, a home gym could satisfy all your fitness needs. A spare bedroom, unused dining room, or garage could be the ideal space for your gym. If you’re going to work out of your garage, you may need to purchase a space heater (available for under $50), and you may need to make some modifications such as coating the floor with epoxy. You can DIY this work since hiring professionals can be costly (averaging $2,150), but make sure you prep the surface properly and carefully apply the epoxy to avoid damaging the floor.
Don’t let the cold of winter get the better of your fitness regimen. If you need help focusing and staying motivated, try interval training to keep things short but powerful. If you are looking for something to help you relax while keeping you healthy, yoga and swimming are fantastic ways to stay in shape and keep your mood elevated. There’s just no reason to let the winter blues get to you with so many options at your fingertips.