Why Staying Active in Winter Is More Important Than You Think
As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, it’s easy to swap evening walks for couch time and outdoor workouts for warm blankets. While it’s totally natural to want to slow down during winter, staying active during the colder months is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health.
1. Beat the Winter Blues
One of the biggest benefits of staying active in winter is the impact it has on your mood. Many people experience a dip in energy and happiness during the colder months, sometimes leading to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). With less sunlight and more time indoors, our bodies produce less serotonin and more melatonin, which can leave us feeling tired, sluggish, and low.
Exercise is a natural mood booster. Whether it is a short walk, pilates session or going for a 20 minute run, exercise can increase endorphins and serotonin levels. There are many other benefits to physical activity that can help improve your mental wellbeing, including improved sleep and reduced stress levels.
2. Maintain a Healthy Routine
Winter often throws our routines off balance. Between the holidays, shorter days, and colder weather, it’s easy to fall into patterns of inactivity. But staying active helps to maintain your regular routine and stay motivated.
Whilst our routine may have to change slightly due to ever-changing weather it doesn’t have to be put on pause throughout winter. Outdoor running and cycling can be swapped for treadmills and stationary bikes. It could be a great time to build up more strength in the gym, try out a pilates class or get some gentle movement in with yoga. It is much easier to maintain some form of a routine than restart from scratch once the weather warms up.
3. Prevent injuries throughout the year
Staying active, even in the cooler months helps to keep your body strong and prevent injuries. A sudden increase in exercise after remaining sedentary throughout winter can make you susceptible to overuse injuries. These injuries often take time to overcome and can restrict what physical activity you can do.
Continuing to remain active throughout winter can help prevent these situations. It is also important that as we inevitably increase movement as the weather improves to do so in a gradual manner to further prevent injurys.
4. Health Benefits
Not only does regular exercise have a positive effect on your mental well-being but it is very important for your physical health as well. With the natural increase in sedentary behavior in winter it is important to still incorporate regular movement.
Being active can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, muscle loss, and bone loss. Incorporating exercise within your day, even if it is inside when its cooler will have many health benefits.
Tips for Staying Active in Winter
If you’re struggling to stay consistent, try these tips:
- Dress in layers: Wear moisture-wicking clothing and warm outerwear for outdoor workouts
- Move indoors: Join a gym or follow online home workouts.
- Try new exercises: Stay motivated by trying new forms of exercise, go to a pilates class, yoga, indoor fitness class or indoor rock climbing.
- Set realistic goals: Focus on consistency over intensity—something is always better than nothing.
- Find a workout buddy: Having someone to keep you accountable makes it easier to show up.
Winter doesn’t have to be a time of inactivity and sluggishness. In fact, staying active during the colder months is important for you mental and physical well being. Whether it’s a daily walk, or a yoga session in your living room, every bit of movement counts.
So bundle up, stay motivated, and keep moving—you’ll feel better all winter long, and your body will thank you come spring.