As the winter season comes to a close, it’s prudent to stay active while the last of the cold air arrives. Spending many hours sequestered indoors can encourage a sedentary lifestyle, which has negative consequences.
Why is it Important to Stay Active in Wintertime?
Beyond hiding indoors, people can also find winter workouts difficult due to seasonal depression. As a result, many experience shifts in mood and lower energy, which leads to decreased motivation to exercise.
Lifestyle experts have long emphasized the importance of physical activity in these cold months as a way to boost low levels of dopamine and serotonin, as well as the benefits it gives you in your physical health.
Nonetheless, even as the weather works against you, there are ways to maintain a healthy mind and body in the winter. Here are some activities that can help you stay active in the chilly weather.
1. Do Home Workout Videos
If icy roads deter you from driving to your favorite gym, check out the plethora of home workout videos on Youtube. From Orange Theory to Daily Burn to Sculpt Society, there are plenty of online offerings for workout regimens, as well as paid virtual classes to keep you on track.
Just clear some space in your house, roll out a yoga mat, and grab your computer. Better yet, if you have a smart TV, pull up the video on your television screen and follow along to a virtual sweatfest.
2. Walk in a Winter Wonderland
What better way to take in the gorgeous sights of a snowy winter than a stroll around your local parks? This activity will keep your heartrate up while also giving you a break from bundling up indoors.
Furthermore, as we stay inside during the winter, we limit our exposure to sunlight. Sunlight provides our bodies with Vitamin D, a nutrient crucial for strengthening bones and boosting immune health. It also helps the functioning of our brain and muscle cells.
Research shows that all it takes is 5-30 minutes of walking to get you the sunlight exposure you need. Just make sure to bundle up with thick coats and gloves to prevent discomfort before heading out.
3. Do Indoor Chores
Got any items on your to-do list that you’ve been putting off? These final winter weeks could be the perfect time to get those household chores done. High intensity chores that provide health benefits can range from vacuuming, scrubbing floors, and even carrying loads of laundry.
Cleaning the house can also reduce allergen exposure, while the physical tasks themselves improve cardiovascular health. Consider creating a chore routine on cold days, which helps you lower your anxiety levels and foster a sense of accomplishment. So, bust out that broom and get to sweeping!
4. Take a Cycling Class
Love riding your bike around in the summertime? While winter can curtail these outdoor cycling activities, you can find plenty of companies that offer in-person cycling classes. SoulCycle and Anytime Fitness, in particular, offer highly rated cycling sessions. They even feature themed-song selections, such as a Taylor Swift class.
Furthermore, Peloton offers cycling classes which can be done from the comfort of your own home. Cycling builds core muscle endurance, and those who engage in it can burn up to 600 calories.
5. Shovel Snow or Clear Up Ice
If you’re tired of being trapped in your home by a constantly icy driveway, shoveling and scraping can actually make for a worthwhile exercise. This activity, while providing a practical benefit of clearing up the roads outside your house, can also provide internal health benefits.
Shoveling is a vigorous aerobic activity, andyou could burn around 500 calories in one hour. In other words, shoveling snow can reap just as many health benefits as a cycling session when done with full force. It also engages multiple parts of your body at once, strengthening your leg, core, back, and arm muscles at the same time.
Avoiding the cold can seem like a never-ending, stationary existence inside your home.
However, engaging in any of these activities will keep you active through the end of this cold season. Try out some of the suggestions above and let your body reap the benefits of exercise all year round.
What is your favorite way of staying active during the winter? Let us know in the comments below!
Image by prostooleh on Freepik
Staying active during the colder months can be challenging, but these 5 Ways To Stay Active During The Winter can help you maintain your energy and fitness levels. Try indoor workouts like yoga or home cardio sessions, go for brisk winter walks when the weather allows, join a local gym or fitness class, practice winter sports like skating, and set daily movement goals to stay consistent. Checking a snow calculator before heading outside can also help you plan safe outdoor activities around snowfall and icy conditions.
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