CL’s Guide on How to Stay Motivated to Workout During the Cold Winter Months

Warm holiday cookies, gingerbread houses and hot chocolate can be a dangerous combination when it seems like it is too cold to workout.  It is difficult to stay motivated when staying in bed and watching holiday movies seems much more appealing than facing the winter weather.  So how can you stay on track with your workouts when everything seems to be working against you?

Schedule a specific time to workout.  I recommend making it during the day when it is warmer out, as opposed to when the sun is down and it is just too cold to leave your house.  Creating a routine makes it more natural and a typical part of the day, such as breakfast or dinner.

Shopping spree!  Go shopping for new workout clothes, whether it is for the gym or its extra layers to run outside in, to get motivated to use them.  You don’t want to spend the cash and then leave them sitting in your bureau.

Remind yourself that you want to indulge in sweets during the holidays.  If you keep to exercising, you won’t feel guilty snagging that extra cookie at your family holiday party.

Use incentives.  Tell yourself that you if you keep to running every day for a whole week then you will splurge on that new shirt you want.  The reward system will keep you motivated to achieve that goal and is a fun way to celebrate your accomplishments.

Turn off the television.  At some point, we all get entranced by what is on TV- whether it is an NCIS marathon or the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family.  If you find that you are wasting your time sitting on the couch watching TV instead of working out, turn it off or set a limit for how long you will allow yourself to watch it.

Mix it up. Find other ways to workout, as opposed to your typical run or gym time.  Bundle up and go skiing, snowboarding, ice skating or cross train at a local pool.  Exercising does not have to be boring.

Remember how much work you have put into exercising in the past month or year.  It does not take long to fall out of shape; you do not want all your hard work to have been wasted on sitting in your house, too afraid to face the cold. As a strong co-ed, remind yourself how much you have accomplished and what you plan on achieving in the future.

How do you stay motivated during the cold winter months?

Nicole is a CL intern who goes to Marist College.  She is a Communications major with a concentration in Journalism and PR.  Nicole is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Marist Ambassadors, and Communication Arts Society.  She enjoys running and hanging out with her sorority sisters and friends.