I had this post started before the southeast dipped into a heatwave. The Hot Chocolate Run in Atlanta this past weekend was almost funny since it’s odd to drink cocoa in 65 degree weather.
Alas, many of the states are still enjoying “winter.” We’ve made it through the holidays and now it’s January. The first two months of the year are the worst. Long, cold, dark days and barely any holidays. March is when spring finally bites.
Before many of you start a rigorous, or casual, training regime take a few moments to enjoy this time of year.
MindBodyGreen is a wonderful site filled with tons of goodies on health and wellness. They have some ideas to help you kick the winter blues and put a warm spark back into your schedule.
10 Ways to Appreciate the Darkest Days of the Year
Hibernate. Just like animals, we need time to restore and recharge in preparation for the months ahead. Give yourself a break from the busy schedule to unwind and relax this winter.
Get creative. Vision boards and collages are an easy place to get started and offer a spiritual gateway into the things you wish to see, acquire or become. That law of attraction stuff really works!
Exercise indoors. Winter months can put a serious damper (no pun intended) on a running routine or biking schedule. Commit to an indoor activity like yoga, dance or cycling, all of which provide a full body workout, strength training and a mood-boosting endorphin high.
How to do keep alert and active during the winter months?
My bday and anniversary are in January so that helps get me through this month! I also really love to cross country ski and obviously winter is the only time for that, so I savor it. Love the idea of vision boards and collages, I would love to put something like that next to my treadmill
So many celeb babies this month as well! Happy early birthdayversary.
Cross Country skiing is a serious workout – way to go.
I notice I loose 98% of my motivation to run when the weather is 20 or below…i would rather stay inside
Right?! I hate cold toes.
Hibernate… good advice. It feels so nice to just curl up and read a book when the evenings are dark. Great idea with the vision boards – I think Pinterest will do just nicely for that.
I think it’s about not beating yourself up for taking it easier during cooler weather months. Rest up for the spring fever!
Thanks for drawing my attention to this site! I now have a new boredom buster.
It’s seriously addicting – so many good varieties of articles.
It is definitely so challenging to keep the exercise streak going when the weather is just bad or uncomfortable out there!
I take full advantage of my warm gym, indoors!
Amen to the warm gym! No excuse to not workout. — well almost none:)
I love doing indoor exercise DVDs and now that I’m a stay at home mom…I am constantly moving/cleaning, etc.s It’s a great way to keep in shape in the winter!
My mom is a exercise DVD queen. I’ve tried hers but my coordination is absolute crap. I commend you – it takes a lot of will power to make yourself use those videos to their fullest.
I told myself that I would not slow down this winter, and I have not! Now, February is by far my least favorite month of the year, so we will see how that goes!
At least it’s the shortest:)
I’ve become someone other than myself…as a runner, I’ve learned to embrace the cold weather runs. I almost look forward to them. I’ve also started doing more home DVD workouts and just got a trainer for the bike – hello home spin class
Once you get about a 1/2 mile, you warm right up. It’s getting out the door:) I swear by at home spinning!!
The heat wave has been amazing!
And now it’s snowing everywhere, lol.
Here’s hoping that the heat rises and heads north! Dreary days here in DC…
I’m finding that I actually do like hot yoga, just not when it’s hot OUT. So, for now? Totes in for the sweatfest and streching.
Spin is about as hot as I like a workout:)
That is funny to drink cocoa when it’s so warm out! I love the hibernate message. In winter, I like to take a few weeks to be lazier than normal and enjoy it. Then, I try to cross train and survive winter runs!
You had some fantastic winter survival tips!
I definitely need to get after some of that hibernation business – this January has been waaaay too busy! (although, lots of it is fun stuff, so I shouldn’t complain) I’ve definitely retired the outdoor workouts for the time being, though. It’s freakin’ COLD in Chicago now!