Winter has arrived, and depending on where you live, you might be facing snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, making you want to stay cozy indoors. But for some, winter opens up a variety of activities that you can’t enjoy any other time of the year. Either way, it’s wintertime.
For people who love staying active but aren’t fans of the cold, it can be challenging to keep moving during this season. If you dislike the snow but still want to stay active, you might have to embrace some winter sports, outdoor hobbies, or even modified summer sports. Alternatively, finding ways to stay active indoors is always an option.
To determine the best winter activity for you, think about what you enjoy in the summer. If you like hiking, canoeing, or swimming, you might enjoy winter sports like snowshoeing, skiing, or ice skating. These activities offer a winter twist on your favorite summer pastimes and help you stay active and break the winter monotony.
Instead of cranking up the heat and hibernating, try picking up a winter sport to stay engaged with the outdoors and keep yourself active.
Some activities are more intense than others, but you don’t always need a full-body workout to stay active. Winter outdoor hobbies like making snow angels, building snowmen, and sledding are fun and somewhat active ways to spend time outside. You could also try metal detecting in the snow for a low-impact exercise suitable for any age.
Other outdoor hobbies like ice fishing, bird watching, and photography require spending time outside and staying somewhat active, even if the exercise isn’t strenuous. If you usually hike or walk your dog every day during the summer, snow activities like bird watching might not seem fulfilling, but they still get you outside and moving.
You don’t have to give up your favorite summer sports just because it’s cold. Many activities like camping, jogging, bike riding, and rock climbing can be adapted for winter. Even surfing is possible with wetsuits designed for cold water.
Staying active outdoors doesn’t have to stop because of the cold. Many summer activities can be modified to fit winter conditions. For example, snowshoeing to a camping spot, jogging with warmer clothes and wider bike tires, or finding a suitable rock climbing location.
If braving the cold isn’t for you, staying active indoors is a great alternative. Joining a gym, getting a home workout machine, trying out a Wii workout, or focusing on at-home exercises are all ways to keep moving. While fun outdoor activities have their appeal, they might not always serve as daily workouts.
For some people, an indoor exercise routine with crunches, pushups, lunges, or yoga might be preferable over bundling up and snowshoeing daily. Staying active indoors can help you maintain your exercise routine while staying warm.
The key is to keep moving during the winter months, which can be the hardest time to stay active. Whether you choose winter sports, outdoor hobbies, modified summer activities, or indoor workouts, it’s essential to stay active and avoid falling into a sedentary routine. Instead of binging on Netflix under a blanket, try to get out and do something.