Stay active during the winter months Stay active during the winter months

By Sudie Crouch, Health & Wellness columnist

If you’re like most folks, you made a New Year’s Resolution to be more active this year.

You may have signed up for a gym membership and bought some new shoes and workout clothes to help you stay motivated. Then the cruel reality of the season hit: it’s too cold and dark to want to get out there and move it.

This is completely understandable and one of the biggest obstacles to getting in some movement during this time of the year.

Stay warm and safe

If you prefer to get outside to get in your exercise, make sure you’re properly dressed.

While we typically don’t have those super-cold temps that other areas experience, we have seen some weather that we are not used to.

Keeping your head, hands, feet, and ears covered can help you keep your body temperature regulated, and making sure your clothing is layered is important, too.

If you’re walking or running when it’s still dark outside, make sure you have on reflective gear so you are visible.

Being able to recognize the signs of hypothermia is important too.

Hypothermia is something that can occur quickly once the temps drop, especially if you’re wet from either perspiration or rain, and you may not realize it until it’s hit.

Since hypothermia can happen indoors if it’s cold enough, making sure you’re staying properly protected when outside is even more important.

You may feel like you’re fine because of the physical exertion, but the outer temperature can quickly cause some problems.

Getting movement in – INSIDE!

While the gym is always a favorite especially during the winter months, it’s not for everyone for a number of reasons. Some people may even feel self-conscious about going to the gym. However, there are some great in-home workouts that you can do to help you get in some movement!

You don’t have to have a full in-home gym, but can start with just a few handheld weights or even resistance bands can help get in some light strength training.

YouTube has some great videos that can range from yoga and Pilates to even indoor walking to help you get your steps in. There are also some great apps that can help you stay engaged and motivated as well as some personal trainers online who provide Zoom or virtual training sessions, all in the comfort of your living room.

Another easy – and my personal favorite – way to get in some movement is to just walk in place while watching your favorite streaming program.

It doesn’t even have to be for the entirety of the program but can be for just short intervals; some people like to walk in place in their living room during the commercials.

On average, walking for 20 minutes is approximately a mile, so you can easily get in a mile without leaving the comfort of your house!

And something else to keep in mind: if weight loss was your overall goal, exercise is not a requirement.

It does help burn calories but it’s not necessary.

However, the added benefits of exercise are great reasons to stay active, especially in the winter months.

Sudie Crouch is a health & wellness coach, helping clients create healthy, attainable changes using positive psychology and cognitive behavior approaches.