Ways to Stay Motivated during the Winter Months

Staying motivated and productive during the cold winter months isn’t always easy. In winter you might find it difficult to motivate yourself to do anything, from exercising to important tasks and projects. It’s much better and cozier to stay at a warm house and spend your time watching TV or surfing the Internet. That’s actually a waste of time and energy. Moreover, do you really want to miss all the beautiful and unique things the winter season offers you? If no, then try out a few of the following tips on how to stay motivated during the winter months.

We’ve long suspected that winter was designed to derail all of our well intentioned fitness New Year’s resolutions. The days are shorter. The temperatures are colder. And your motivation, like the groundhog’s shadow, is hard to find.

To help kick back the winter slump, we asked readers like you to tell us what strategies keep them committed to the gym. Get some inspiration from these 40 cold-weather tips for staying fit and healthy all season long.

Don’t get lazy just because it’s cold outside. Here’s how to stay motivated to run through winter so that your first spring race doesn’t feel like hell. 

Wake up early:
“What?” It’s probably what you’ve just said. I know, I know, it’s so hard to get up early in the morning when it’s frosty outside. But sleeping in won’t help you boost your energy levels, you might even end up feeling sleepy and tired. Winter days are shorter so you can’t allow yourself to sleep till midday. Get up earlier to enjoy more daylight hours and get more things done. During the cold winter months, a good alarm is your best friend!

Exercise:
When I was a college student and my friend did her morning exercises, I always said that she’s crazy. My friend is a super active gal who can do an incredible number of things a day. She stays active and motivated during all seasons of the year and I’ve never heard her complaints about cold weather and bad mood. Now I realize that doing a few exercises in the morning is a surefire way to keep my energy level high during the day. You don’t have to go to the gym, though. Go for a short walk, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or jump the rope for half an hour in the morning (like I do) to get those endorphins and boost your energy and mood.

Make to-do lists:
Creating a to-do list at the beginning of the day, week or month can help you feel more focused and motivated during the winter season. If you have lots of important tasks to accomplish at work but you feel lack of energy and motivation, you can also try making to-do lists each day. When you see what you should do, you have less excuses for not doing it. Remember, you will never become successful, if you will spend most of your time lying under the blanket moaning about cold weather and lack of energy.

Enjoy those little things winter offers you:
Winter is a fantastic time to do lots of nice things. You can enjoy a yummy hot chocolate, play a snowball fight with your family or friends, build snowmen, take a walk through the frozen park, curl up near the warm fireplace with your favorite book and a cup of tea, or decorate a Christmas tree. Can you do those things during the summer months? Enjoy this winter season to the fullest and you will stay motivated and productive each day. When a person is in a good mood, they tend to accomplish more during the day.

Help animals:
Look at the animals who are always active no matter the weather. They can inspire you to do the same. Make a habit of feeding the birds in your garden or park each day, and homeless animals you see on your way to college or work. You will know that you should go to the park to feed birds, or go to college or work on foot to feed you favorite homeless dog. This way, you help animals survive the winter season and you stay active and motivated each day, even on your weekends.

Boost your career:
Did you know that you can boost your career at home? There are many good websites that can help you improve your knowledge and become more professional. If you spend most of your time indoors, why not learn a new language. You may not need it right now, but one day when your boss will ask who knows that language, you will say proudly that you know.

Give yourself rewards:
Although it’s not the best way to stay motivated during the winter months, it’s still worth trying. If you get up earlier each day, don’t skip your morning exercises, eat healthy, clean your house, and accomplish all of the important tasks during the day, why not reward yourself? Now, I’m not talking about shopping, so leave your credit card where it should be. Running into debts isn’t a fun thing. There are much better rewards like eating your favorite dessert , drinking a hot chocolate, getting a massage etc.

Winter is the perfect season to set goals, stay active and enjoy your life to the fullest. Hopefully, these little tips will help you get the most of each winter month. If you have any other tips to stay motivated in winter, don’t forget to share them with us in the comments section, please.

Excuse: 
"It's too hard to get out of bed on cold, dark mornings."
It's true that temperature and light have direct impact on our body rhythms in the winter extremes. But there are simple things you can do to encourage yourself to leave the comfort of your warm bed.

Create heat:
Adjust the thermostat timer to warm your home or bedroom before the alarm goes off. If the temperature outside the duvet is as enjoyable as inside, poof! the excuse is gone. Even better, put your workout clothes on the heater or radiator so they are toasty warm and ready for you when you climb out of bed.

Recreate early sunlight:
Invest in a bedside lamp that simulates natural daylight. For example, the Phillips 'Wake-up Light', endorsed by the National Sleep Foundation, gradually increases the light and comes with built in clock and alarm. Starting your day with natural light will help activate your internal clock to get ready to take on the day.

Tune your alarm:
Rather than a normal, annoying alarm clock, use your iPod or similar device to play specific songs that get you going. It doesn't need to be your techno dance mix but something that lifts your mood and energy will do wonders for your ability to get out of bed on the first try.

Find a friend:
Find someone who will commit to joining you in the morning for walks or workouts, and hold you accountable for showing up. Knowing someone is waiting for you to share the pain of the early darkness might be just the stimulus you need to throw back the covers and get out of the house.
Excuse: "I may be out of bed but I still don't want to go outside."

It's easy to fall into a vicious cycle of excuses that destroy momentum and kill motivation to be active. Use these ideas to boost your mood from the get go.

Put your head under water. Rather than clinging to the comfort of your favorite housecoat while shuffling to the kitchen for a coffee, make a beeline to the shower. The water will wake you. Getting dressed right away also will help get you past the urge to lounge lazily over your latte.

Dress the part:
The truth is there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices. Is it time to upgrade to proper winter performance gear? If you've balked at the cost of higher-priced winter hats, gloves, tights, tops or jackets for outdoor activity, just ask anyone who's used them: The price is easily offset by the increase in enjoyment, comfort and enthusiasm that helps counteract the cold. If you already have some, maybe it's time to treat yourself to a new piece. A new base layer or trail running shoes might be the bribe you need to head outdoors on a regular basis.

Go easy:
If you lost sight of why you love to run in the midst of a ass-kicking summer training program, use the winter to get your passion back. “For someone who is running all year long, the winter is a good time to build up the necessary base you need for the rest of the season. So don’t have a set workout routine that focuses on pace or intensity instead, focus on easy-to-follow, general goals that keep you accountable. One month, aim to run four times per week for 30 minutes each. The next month, run four times a week for an hour each. Listen to your body. It can’t go fast 12 months a year, so simply focus on building a strong foundation for spring.

Dress warm: 
But not too warm “As you go out the door, you are initially going to be cold. But don’t overdress, he warns, because that is when you overheat and could get dizzy or dehydrated quickly. Instead, dress for ten to 15 degrees warmer than the actual temperature. You should feel a brisk chill when you head outside, but shouldn’t be overly hot during your warm-up.  Dress in layers and definitely wear a hat, as well as a thin pair of running gloves leave the wool, thick ones at home for a snow day. Your feet should produce enough heat to stay warm in a regular pair of running socks.

Ditch your regular running shoes:
Your regular running shoes won’t provide you with the traction you need when slush and black ice cover the ground. “No matter how cautious you are, sometimes you don’t see that ice. “You don’t want to be out for the next season because of a broken wrist or elbow.” Instead of chancing it, preempt the dangers of slipping and sliding by grabbing a pair of running shoes with thick traction or tread that will hold up in the winter months. The shoe may be heavier, but as the winter isn’t a time to hardcore train, the weight won’t be an issue.

Be hyper-aware:
of your surroundings “When you are running in winter, you always have to be thinking; be totally aware. Don’t get too lost in your iPod or your thoughts that you disregard your surroundings. If it is a really icy or slushy day, run sans music or shorten your stride to have more control over your step.  Run through some snow to build strength, and add variety to your runs to keep your mind fresh and always aware of the environment. As the days get shorter, make sure your gear is laced with reflective tape and consider buying a headlamp to not only let others know where you are, but also to help you see the road or trail as the sun sets.

Extend your warm-up:
 In the winter months, make sure to take a longer warm-up than you normally do during the warmer months. This will help your muscles ease into your run, and prevent tears or pulls. If your usual warm-up takes about ten minutes before leading you into your full stride, try hitting it easy for 15 or even 20 minutes. “Your body is cold and stiff, “and you need to take that extra time, even it if means walking for five minutes, to go from an easy jog to an easy run and then into a medium-paced run."