Winter has arrived, and depending on where you live, you might be dealing with snow, ice, freezing temperatures, and the urge to stay indoors under a cozy blanket. However, winter also brings unique activities that aren’t possible during other times of the year.
For those who love staying active but aren’t fans of the cold, it can be tough to keep moving during winter. If snow isn’t your thing but you still want to stay active, consider embracing winter sports, exploring outdoor hobbies, modifying summer sports, or finding ways to stay active indoors.
Think about what you enjoy doing in the summer to decide on a winter activity. If you love hiking, canoeing, or swimming, try winter sports like snowshoeing, skiing, or ice skating. These activities not only make winter enjoyable but also help you stay active.
Instead of cranking up the heat and hibernating all winter, try out a sport to keep your interest in the outdoors and stay active with fun activities. Some activities are more rigorous, while others offer low-impact exercise to get you out of the house. Building snowmen, making snow angels, or sledding are great winter activities that encourage outdoor time and some physical activity. You might also enjoy metal detecting in the snow, ice fishing, bird watching, or photography, which keep you moving without intense exercise.
If you’re a summer lover who spends an hour a day hiking or walking the dog, making a snow angel or bird watching may not feel as fulfilling, but it’s still a way to get outside and stay active.
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you can’t continue with your favorite summer sports or activities—you just need to modify them. Activities like camping, jogging, bike riding, and rock climbing can be adapted for winter. Even surfing can be done with a wetsuit designed for cold weather. With slight adjustments, you can keep up with outdoor exercises despite the cold.
For some, the freezing temperature makes outdoor activities impossible. If you can’t handle the cold or just don’t want to, there are plenty of ways to stay active indoors. Joining a gym, buying a home workout machine, doing a Wii workout, or focusing on simple at-home exercises are all great options. Winter outdoor activities can be fun, but they’re not always practical for daily workouts.
Instead of braving the cold, many people prefer to exercise indoors. Doing a set of crunches, pushups, and lunges in your living room, or practicing at-home yoga, can help you stay active while staying warm.
The key is to keep moving during these challenging months. For those who prefer activities over a gym routine, it’s easy to fall into a less active lifestyle. By participating in winter sports, starting an outdoor hobby, modifying summer activities, or working out indoors, you can stay active during winter without resorting to a Netflix binge under a blanket.