5 ways to get you motivated to exercise in winter

It’s harder than ever to stay fit and healthy in the winter months: it’s cold and dark outside and the preferred option is usually to curl up on the sofa. Maintaining an exercise routine is as important as ever, so summon that inner strength, and use the below methods to get you motivated.

Buddy up

Making the commitment to train with someone, whether it’s a friend or personal trainer, often forces a different, increased level of effort in your training. You’ll be far less inclined to cancel a workout if you’re letting someone else down too. It could also encourage you to try new things, because let’s face it, turning up to a brand new exercise class or activity can be quite intimidating on your own.

Make it fun

Think outside the box when it comes to working out so it’s something you look forward to rather than dread. Grab a few friends and go to a dance or yoga class. Alternatively, use your weekend to wrap up warm and go for a long, energetic walk.

Focus on the benefits

Regular exercise keeps your immune system strong so you’ll be ready to fight off any nasty seasonal bugs. It’ll also keep those pesky winter blues at bay; it’s easy to get down in the dumps when it’s grey, cold and miserable outside but getting your heart rate up is nature’s Prozac.

Make a music playlist

The weather sucks, so it’s time for some new music to get you going! Research shows that listening to music you love while working out can help you to push yourself harder than you normally would and burn 15% more calories. So on one of the nights that you can’t quite face it, build yourself an awesome playlist. Don’t listen to it beforehand, but instead get excited to play it during your workout and have some uninterrupted time with your favourite tunes. Bear in mind that the best exercise music has been found to be between 120 and 140 beats per minute, and try to work out to some material you’re not that familiar with for a change.

Set a goal and create a reward system

Aiming for an end goal can push you up and off the sofa: fear of failure is a motivating thing. Goals can be small, perfecting your headstand in yoga for instance or achieving 50 burpees without quitting, but they need to be enough to get you pounding the pavements or getting to a class. We’re simple creatures and promising yourself a reward can often achieve results. Try to avoid unhealthy food-based treats so as not to undo all your good work, but tell yourself if you exercise four times a week for the next month, you’ll treat yourself to that new coat or those winter boots you were after. Of course, this requires willpower not to just buy yourself the items anyway, but it’s a lesson in self-discipline all-round, which is no bad thing.

Don’t get too comfortable with the idea of winter. Keep pushing yourself!