Winter has arrived. Depending on where you live, you might be dealing with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, prompting you to stay wrapped up in a warm blanket indoors. But for others, winter brings a slew of activities that just aren’t possible during other seasons. No matter how you feel about winter, it’s here to stay for a while.
If you’re someone who loves staying active but dreads the cold, it can be tough to keep moving during this time of year. If snow isn’t your thing but you still want to stay active, consider embracing winter sports, trying out some outdoor hobbies, modifying your favorite summer activities, or finding ways to stay active indoors.
The best way to figure out what activity suits you in winter is to think about what you enjoy in the summer. If you love hiking, canoeing, or swimming, you might enjoy snowshoeing, skiing, or ice skating. These winter versions of your favorite summer activities not only break up the monotony of the season but also keep you active.
Instead of cranking up the heat and hiding indoors all winter, give a winter sport a try to stay engaged with the outdoors. Some activities are more intense than others, but not everything has to be a strenuous workout. Winter hobbies like making snow angels, building snowmen, or sledding can get you outside and moving without too much effort. You could even try metal detecting in the snow, which is a low-impact exercise suitable for any age.
Ice fishing, bird watching, and photography are other outdoor hobbies that get you moving, even if the exercise isn’t intense. Someone used to an hour a day of hiking or walking might not find these activities fulfilling, but they’re still options for getting outside.
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you can’t continue your favorite summer activities— you might just need to modify them. Camping, jogging, biking, and rock climbing are typically summer pursuits that can be adapted for winter. Even surfing can be done with the right wetsuit. Staying active outdoors doesn’t have to stop because of the cold, and many activities can be adjusted to work in winter.
For those who can’t face the freezing outdoors, staying inside is a fine alternative. You don’t have to miss out on exercise just because you’re warm indoors. Join a gym, invest in a home workout machine, try a Wii workout, or focus on easy at-home exercises. While outdoor winter activities are fun, not all of them are suitable for a daily workout.
Some people prefer to work out indoors rather than bundle up for winter sports. You can prepare a workout consisting of crunches, pushups, and lunges in your living room, or do some at-home yoga to stay active while staying warm.
The key is to keep moving during these tough winter months. For those who favor activities over gym routines, it’s easy to lose motivation. With choices like winter sports, outdoor hobbies, modified summer activities, and indoor workouts, you can stay active even if it’s just doing something other than binge-watching Netflix under a blanket at home.
