This is a big deal for many people…how to stay motivated during Winter!
I’m assuming here that your Winter is cold and darker nights as I have. I certainly would love to spend the Winter in a warmer climate than the U.K.!
Again this is a mindset thing…..you always have to remember the reason why you started exercising in the first place. There is no point doing it for a couple of months in the summer then breaking off when it gets colder using that as an excuse. It must be a lifestyle change to achieve results and keep them long term.
No matter how much I try to explain this to people, I see it every year! People start in the Summer, then are hit and miss around September / October, then they have broken their new habit so when November / December comes they use anything as an excuse…..its too cold, xmas shopping etc. (many of the reasons can really be done any time but they start to be put before their 1 hour workouts!). Some of these people were only doing 1 or 2 hours a week anyway!
January then comes and they have over indulged during December and feel worse than ever! “If only I had kept it up – I wouldn’t be this bad now”!!!
Continuing as normal towards the end of the year, means you can indulge without feeling guilty over Xmas. Its only 1 day isn’t it? It’s not the full month!
So my Top tips for How to stay motivated during the Winter:
- Keep warm! Layer up. If wear 3-4 layers to go out and when training. I hate feeling the cold in my bones so this does the job. As I train I will take layers off but then ensure I am wrapped up going back out. I love staying in snuggled up in the warm but I need to train so its simple – WRAP UP!
- Review your training time. You may find getting into the habit of getting up an hour early to get it done first thing suits you better? You will feel good for the rest of the day and also at the end of your working day you can go straight home and enjoy relaxing in the warm! Or maybe look at a lunchtime workout?
- Find someone to workout with. This will mean if 1 of you starts looking for an excuse as you are not feeling it, the other can motivate you to go. You also feel like not letting that person down.
- Workout at home. This may be a better option during winter months. You need high discipline for this, diary it and stick to it no matter what and follow as program.
- Treat yourself to some new workout clothes. You will want to wear them then!
