How to Stay Motivated to Exercise When It’s Cold: 5 Winter Movement Tips
It seems all anyone can talk about lately is how cold it is. In just five short days—extra short because we are close to the solstice!—winter has officially arrived. I don't know why it shocks me every year, considering this is my fifty-third winter, but apparently, I can still be surprised.
It can be incredibly hard to stay motivated to move our bodies at this time of the year. The short, icy days play a big part. Not only does it feel harder to squeeze life into fewer daylight hours, but the lack of light can also take a toll on our moods. I even had a student tell me recently that she'll be back at yoga in spring because driving at night isn't comfortable for her anymore (which is totally understandable). Plus, when we don't have to show our bodies as much, it’s all too easy to hide behind baggy, layered clothes.
But as I've said a million times before, moving our bodies isn't just about how we look; it does amazing things for our physical and mental health. So even if going out to a physical class feels like a leap too far right now, keeping active is still vital in the colder months.
Here are five tips to keep you moving:
Layer up! Wearing multiple layers means you can start out warm and shed them only if you need to. Especially when practicing yoga, keeping the muscles warm helps make the practice far more comfortable. If you do venture out to a class, make sure you pack a blanket and thick socks so you can stay cozy during meditation, too.
Drop the expectations. We constantly see people exercising on social media wearing the "perfect" activewear outfits. But let’s be real: if I have to change into cold clothes in my cold house just to do a resistance band routine, that workout simply won't happen. After I publish this blog, I am going to do my workout in the exact clothes I am wearing right now—jeans, a jumper, and my pink Merry People boots—so I don't have to deal with a freezing clothes change just to get strong!
Find a meaningful "why." If you've only ever exercised to make your body look a certain way, and you know you can easily hide it under winter coats, your motivation will plummet right now. Last winter, I was dealing with an MCL tear in my knee. I was in chronic pain, I wasn't moving much, I got weaker, and my mental health suffered. After that experience, my "why" shifted. Now, it's about rehabbing my knee and hip injuries to reduce pain, and moving because it keeps my mind clear.
Invest in yourself. A couple of years ago, I bought my first pair of waterproof boots so I felt motivated to keep walking outside—warm, dry feet make all the difference. This year, I invested in a proper windproof coat. Having the right gear means I'll get outside even when the temperature drops, and that fresh air keeps me happy.
Adapt and change. Just because you love a specific yoga class in the warmer months doesn't mean you have to force yourself to go in the dead of winter if it feels like torture (though I’ll miss your presence!). Find ways to move your body that actually work with the seasons. Right now, I'm loving my resistance band workouts because I can do them without leaving the lounge room or changing my clothes. Thinking outside the box makes all the difference.
Bonus tip: Don't beat yourself up if you decide you just want to hibernate for a bit. A few weeks of gentle rest isn't a dealbreaker for your long-term health.
Which of these ideas resonated most with you? Let me know in the comments below!