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25
05
2016

Changing your routine for winter

Winter brings out the sloth in most, if not all, of us. Even the most committed gym junkie has trouble getting out of bed on those wet winter mornings. You may find that getting up to go to the gym at 6 am, or getting your exercise on in the great outdoors, is not as easy as in summer months. You’d much rather be snuggling up under your comfy duvet for an extra hour than go out and face the winter cold.

You may find that the routine you followed and activities you did in summer will most likely not work for you in winter. Here are 3 things you can do to change things up a bit: to retain your energy levels and to remain fit.

Go to bed earlier
By going to bed about 15 minutes earlier every night during winter, and by avoiding over-stimulation (like television, computer games, unnecessary noise, etc.) an hour or so before bedtime, will increase your chances of waking up more refreshed and rested the next morning. Research has shown that that extra bit of sleep has a significant influence on your mood and energy levels.

Exercise in the late afternoon to combat sleepiness
The lack of sunlight during winter causes your body to release melatonin. This hormone creates the urge to fall asleep and you’ll often find yourself being more tired in winter. Even though exercise may be the last thing on your mind when feeling exhausted, being active can combat sleepiness. The best time to exercise during winter is in the late afternoon – doing this helps reduce fatigue and will help improve your sleeping patterns.

Shake things up at the gym
It’s tempting to come home from work, immediately change into your pj’s and just bum out on the couch. We recommend rather exchanging your pyjamas for work-out gear. Find something exciting to do at your local gym, like a CoreBurn class. You’ll receive a full-body workout and burn tons of calories!

author: Zone Fitness