Ways to Keep Moving During the Winter Season

Winter has arrived, and depending on where you live, you might be dealing with snow, ice, and frigid temperatures that make you want to stay indoors. For some people, though, winter opens up a range of activities that aren’t possible at other times of the year. Either way, it’s clear that winter is here.

If you’re someone who loves being active but isn’t a fan of the cold, it can be challenging to stay active during this season. If you don’t like snow but still want to stay active, you might need to try winter sports, engage in outdoor hobbies, modify summer activities, or find ways to be active indoors.

The best way to choose a winter activity is to think about what you enjoy doing in the summer. If you love hiking, canoeing, or swimming, consider winter sports to keep yourself active. Activities like snowshoeing, skiing, or ice skating are winter versions of the fun summer activities you enjoy. These activities are not only fun but also help you stay active and break the monotony of winter.

Instead of cranking up the heat and staying indoors all winter, try a sport that keeps you interested in the outdoors while staying active. Some activities are more physically demanding than others, but not all need to be intense workouts. Winter outdoor hobbies can offer low-impact exercise and get you out of the house. Making snow angels, building snowmen, and sledding are great ways to spend time outdoors and stay somewhat active. You could also try metal detecting in the snow, which provides low-impact exercise for any age. Ice fishing, bird watching, and photography are outdoor hobbies that require you to stay moving even if the exercise isn’t vigorous.

If you usually spend an hour a day hiking or walking your dog in the summer, you might not feel satisfied with making snow angels or bird watching, but these activities are still options to get outside and move. Even though it’s cold, you don’t have to give up your favorite summer activities; you just might need to modify them. Camping, jogging, bike riding, and rock climbing can all be adapted for winter. Even surfing is possible with wetsuits designed for winter.

Staying active and exercising outdoors doesn’t have to end because of the cold. Many activities can be modified for winter. Snowshoeing to a winter campsite, jogging in warmer clothes, using wider bike tires, or finding a different rock climbing location are all ways to adapt summer sports for colder weather.

For those who can’t or don’t want to brave the freezing outdoors, staying inside is a viable option. Even if you can’t run around the block or go mountain biking, you can still work out. Joining a gym, buying a home workout machine, doing a Wii workout, or focusing on at-home exercises are great ways to stay active. While outdoor winter activities are fun, many aren’t ideal for daily workouts.

Some people prefer indoor exercise to bundling up and trying to snowshoe every day. Doing a set of crunches, push-ups, and lunges around the living room or trying at-home yoga can keep you active while staying warm.

The key is to keep moving during these challenging months. For those who prefer activities over gym routines, it can be easy to lose motivation. With options like winter sports, outdoor hobbies, modifying summer activities, and indoor workouts, it’s possible to stay active in the winter. Even if it’s just a little movement instead of binging on Netflix under a blanket, staying active is achievable.