How To Keep Exercising During These Cold Winter Months

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With winter having just arrived and the colder temperatures upon us, it’s not unusual for most of us to struggle to keep up our exercise regime. 
When the mercury plummeted to single digit figures, we all reached for the flannelette sheets, the extra blanket and dug out the woolly jumpers from the storage shed. 
Just because it’s cold, doesn’t mean we stop exercising so here’s my top 5 tips on how to keep exercising during these cold winter months.

1. Sleep In Your work Out Clothes.  I know this may sound a little weird, but if you like to exercise first thing in the morning, then getting out of a warm bed and into skimpy workout clothes can be a tough ask for even the most hardened athlete. By sleeping in your workout clothes you kill 2 birds with 1 stone. 

   Firstly, you save about 2 mins of time because you don’t have to get dressed in the morning, so you get an extra 2 mins sleep.  Secondly, jumping out of bed and hitting the gym or the pavement doesn’t require getting cold before you start.

2. Layer Up.  It’s important that you keep warm, even at the commencement of your workout or run, so the best way to do this is to simply add layers of clothing.  Skins, hoodies, beanies and gloves are all simple things to wear while you train.
    
   As you warm up and work up a sweat, you simply shed a little at a time.  Then as you near the end of your workout and begin your cool down & stretch, slowly add those layers to prevent you from catching cold.
3. Find Some Light.  With shorter days, people use the excuse that it’s too dark to exercise outside, yet Queensland, most winter sports teams train in the dead of night, so here’s a sneaky tip.  Find yourself a local sports ground where these teams are busy pounding the fields and tuck yourself away in the corner well out of their way.  Most ovals lights flood the entire ground and there is plenty of space.
4. Get Yourself Wet.  There are plenty of indoor heated swimming pools around.  Get yourself to the local pool and get yourself wet.
5. Maximise the Daylight Hours.  Lunch times are the most under-utilised time of the day.  A 45 min workout with work colleagues during the lunch hour has a number of positive benefits.  Firstly, it promotes team work within the workplace and bonds colleagues together. 

   Secondly, the break from work related stressors can be just what the employee needs to re-invigorate for the afternoon slog through to knock off time.  If need be, to make up for the missed time away from the office, you can start 15 mins earlier than usual and leave 15 mins later.

So, those are my top 5 tips to keep you moving during the winter.