Cold-weather friendly ways to get active this Winter

We wouldn’t be alone in saying that with the cooler weather comes less opportunity to get outside, get moving and get our heart rate up. But what if we didn’t have to brace the chilly outdoor temperature to get the benefits of regular exercise? We share a few clever tips to keep you moving over the next few months.

Tip 1 – Move with joy
Exercise doesn’t have to be boring and nor it should be. Let go of the strict rules and move in a way that brings you joy. Love dancing? Join a local dance class once per week with some friends or your significant other. Want to spend more time with the kids? Head to your local trampoline centre and join them on the springs for half an hour. Anything that gets your muscles moving, your blood flowing and your heart rate up is considered exercise, so forget forcing yourself to do something you hate and start moving for joy!

Tip 2 – Join a local sporting team
As we get older we tend to play less and less organised sport, yet joining the local basketball, netball or indoor soccer club (just to name a few) is one of the most effective ways to maintain a regular exercise routine and enjoy social activity. Have a look in your local area and see what indoor sports are offered. Squash courts, indoor bowling clubs, karate and even indoor rock climbing all give you the benefits of regular movement away from the cooler temperatures.

Tip 3 – Set small, achievable goals
Something we can all be guilty of is setting large, unrealistic goals when we first plan to move more. As a general rule, the quicker we start something, the quicker we tend to stop doing it. Aim for 10 minutes of activity a day everyday rather than 30 minutes a day a few times a week. Why? Doing something everyday sets up a regular habit in the brain – especially if we do it at the same time every day. Once your new routine feels automatic, and you’re doing it without much thought, then start increasing the duration of the activity from 10 minutes to 15 minutes, then to 20 minutes…and so on. Small, consistent steps are the key to maintaining a long term exercise routine with gradual progression.

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