How to stay fitness motivated when the weather is cold

I love the winter. There’s nothing like bundling up in your nicest coat, grabbing some hot chocolate and taking a walk through the snow. But there’s one thing I don’t love about winter: how much harder it can be to stay motivated when the weather is cold outside. When it comes to staying fit during the winter months, you’ve got a lot of options at your disposal, but perhaps none more important than finding ways to stay motivated and engaged with your workouts despite colder temperatures. Here’s how!

Cold weather motivation

As the weather gets colder, it can be more difficult to stay motivated for your fitness goals. The cold weather can make it harder to get out of the house and get moving. It’s also easy for people who live in colder climates to become less active when the temperature drops, because they’re often more focused on staying warm than working out in freezing temperatures.

But there are ways you can stay motivated even when it feels like all hope is lost! Here are some tips:

Banish the inner couch potato

• Banish the inner couch potato. You can’t go outside, so your workout options are limited. But there are some ways to stay active indoors that don’t involve sweating profusely and risking frostbite:
• Take a walk around your neighborhood or block. If the weather’s nice enough, this is a great way to get in some fresh air without having to leave home (and if it isn’t nice out yet, do this anyway). It’ll be good for both your body and mind!
• Head out for some light cardio at home–the elliptical machine may not be ideal when it comes time for winter sports but it’s better than nothing! And if there’s snow outside then go ahead and use those skis; they’re meant for more than just sitting around collecting dust all winter long anyway.* A simple yoga routine can help stretch out tight muscles after being cooped up inside all day long.* Swimming laps at pool will provide cardiovascular benefit while also helping keep joints loose during cold weather months when outdoor activities aren’t recommended due their risk factors associated with injury potentials due weather conditions such as ice or snow accumulation on sidewalks/pathways leading up towards these areas where people tend walk through them regularly throughout each day.”

Get outside

• Get outside. It’s easy to stay indoors when the weather is bad, but getting outside can help you feel more energized and motivated. Taking advantage of daylight hours, even during winter months when there’s less light, can also make it easier to stick with your fitness routine because you’re not working out at night when it’s dark out. You don’t have to brave freezing temperatures or heavy snowfall if that’s not what works best for your schedule–just find ways to get outside on a regular basis!
• Try new things (and don’t forget your coat). Whether it’s cross-country skiing or hiking through nearby trails with friends, exploring nature in all its different forms will give you something fun and exciting to look forward too while helping increase both physical activity levels as well as mental well-being.*

Set mini goals

• Set mini goals.
• Break down the big goal into mini goals, and then break each of those down into even smaller ones. The smaller you can make it, the better! If you set a goal for yourself that’s too big or vague, it may be difficult to achieve and therefore demotivate you from continuing with your fitness routine.
• Mini goals can be achieved within 3-4 weeks–and when they are met, it will give you something positive to focus on instead of just focusing on all the things left undone (or not done yet).

Be kind to yourself

• When it comes to fitness and exercising, don’t be too hard on yourself. You are not a machine; you will not always be able to get your workout in every single day. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a workout or two. Don’t let the weather get in the way of your goals!
• Keep your expectations realistic: If you’re looking for results right away, this may be more difficult than if you take baby steps towards success (and setbacks are bound to happen). It’s also important not to compare yourself with other people–your body is unique and responds differently than everyone else’s does when it comes down to losing weight or building muscle.*

Failing to plan is planning to fail

You know what’s great about planning? It helps you stay focused, avoid procrastination, and stay on track with your goals. Planning also helps you avoid burnout by giving yourself a mental break from the constant grind of working out.

Take this for example: Let’s say that you have decided to go for a run every day at 6 PM. You have planned everything from what time of day this will happen; where exactly in the park or on which street corner; what kind of shoes (or no shoes!) to wear; how long it will take; how many calories burned…and so forth! All these things help ensure that when 6 PM rolls around each evening–you’re ready!

Don’t allow winter to ruin your progress

• Stay motivated. It’s easy to feel like your progress has come to a halt when you’re stuck inside, but don’t give up! You can still stay active by taking advantage of the winter weather and using it as an excuse to get outside (or get creative with your workouts).
• Keep a routine. If you have an established workout schedule that works for you, stick with it! The key is making sure that your workout remains consistent regardless of what season it is or how much time you have available for exercise.*
• Use the winter weather as an opportunity for creativity in finding ways to stay active.* Set mini goals throughout the year so that every month doesn’t feel like such a long stretch between them.* Practice self care–take some time out from working out by doing something else fun or relaxing instead!

Find a mental challenge

If you’re looking for a way to stay motivated during the winter months, try setting a mental challenge. The same thing that makes physical activity enjoyable–the feeling of accomplishment and pride in yourself–is just as rewarding when it comes from accomplishing something new mentally.

Mental challenges are great because they don’t require any special equipment or training, but they still give you an opportunity to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Examples include learning a new skill (like how to cook), challenging yourself by doing something out-of-character (like trying out for an improv comedy group), or improving upon something that you do every day (such as studying).

Conclusion

The key to staying motivated when the weather is cold is to find something that works for you. For some people, it may be as simple as having a positive attitude and setting small goals for themselves. Others may need more of an external source of motivation like going on daily walks with friends or family members who also love fitness. Whatever it takes to keep your spirits high during these cold months, let’s hope it keeps working!