Don’t Let Cold Weather Keep You From a Great Workout

How to Keep Your Body Moving, Even During Winter

If you happen to be the kind of person who loves skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing, that’s awesome — getting your workout in during the wintertime is probably no trouble for you.

If you’re like me, though, you might not be too crazy about being cold. Despite the fact that I live in the northeast, I vastly prefer being warm, snuggly, and cozy inside during the chillier months. 

This dislike for being cold can make it a little tough to keep our bodies moving during winter. Finding the time and motivation to work out is tough on a normal day—add to that the challenge of running in freezing temperatures, or even just bundling up to get to the gym? Not fun. 

I did have a win this week that I’m pretty proud of though.  I bundled up and went for a nice long walk outside, even though it was about 36 degrees! Yes, I had on thermal leggings under fleecy pants, earmuffs, scarf, hood, etc.  You could barely see my face, but I did it and it wasn’t that bad!

That said though, it is totally possible to get a great workout during the winter—no slopes, lifts, or balaclavas required. Here are some of my favorite ways to move my body, even when it’s freezing outside.

1. Make small changes to your daily habits.

You’ve probably gotten advice to take the stairs over the elevator—little changes like that aren’t enough on their own, but they do help. Consider parts of your normal routine where you can increase your movement, even if it’s only a little bit. For me, that means choosing a standing desk over a standard desk. You could even get creative and try standing on a wobble board or walking on a treadmill while you work!

2. Challenge yourself to move five minutes out of every hour.

Set an alarm on your phone and spend the last five minutes of every hour moving in some way. This can mean stretching, walking around your house or office building, taking your dog outside, doing some jumping jacks, whatever. The point is to shift your mindset so that you’re accustomed to moving and looking for opportunities to get up and move around.

3. The gym is your friend.

Unless you have a home gym, this does involve pulling on your boots and your coat and trudging out to the car (sorry). But you’ll enjoy getting to shed some layers once you’re in the gym, and you’ll feel warmer for having worked out! PLUS, when you build more muscle, your body generates more heat . . . which means it’ll be that much easier to feel warm all the time. 

4. Look for places to walk indoors.

Do you have a local shopping mall, indoor farmer’s market, YMCA track, or indoor garden? Places like those offer a fabulous opportunity to knock out your regular walk WITHOUT having to deal with the weather. 

Curious to learn more? Come check out my Thrive VIP community! Together, my guest coaches and I work with you to offer personalized tips on eating, moving, and recharging your way to lifelong health, no matter the weather. 

For now, I’d love to hear from you: What’s your favorite way to get exercise during the wintertime OR your biggest challenge when it comes to getting exercise in the wintertime? Leave your response in the comments!