Staying Active During the Winter Months

Amy Carroll, MS, MCHES

Winter in Northeast Missouri can be a challenging time to stay active. Chilly temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and snowy roads often make staying on a regular exercise routine feel impossible. But keeping your body moving during the winter months is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and mental health. Regular activity helps maintain strength, supports heart health, improves mood, and can even boost your immune system during cold and flu season.                                                                                                                                        

The good news is we can still get up and get moving during the cold winter months. Start by finding activities you enjoy.

·         Embrace the outdoors. Cold air doesn’t have to mean staying inside all winter. Getting outdoors can lift your mood and provide much-needed vitamin D when the sun is shining.  Get out and take a brisk walk or a hike. If there is snow, build a snowman, go sledding, and shovel your sidewalk.

·         Stay active indoors. Not every winter day in Northeast Missouri is fun to be out in, especially if it’s extremely cold or the roads or sidewalks are icy. On days like these, find fun things to do indoors. Even simple household chores such as vacuuming or sweeping can count as movement. Want a structured activity to do indoors? YouTube has a variety of fun exercise videos. Check out the list below to find some that make movement fun.

-          Walk at Home

-          HASfit

-          Yoga with Adriene

-          Tai Chi for Beginners

-          Yes2next

·         Get up and get some small movement every day. Stand and stretch every hour, especially during work or TV time. Walk while on the phone. Park farther out when shopping. Small, consistent movements can add up.

·         Focus on mental health. When the sun isn’t shining, it can impact our mood and motivation. Staying active offers numerous mental health benefits, including reduced stress, improved sleep, and enhanced mood. It’s also important to focus on social connections this time of year. Workout with friends or family, or call someone when taking a walk.

Winter doesn’t have to slow our movement. Being consistent can really help us stay active when it’s a little harder to find motivation. Moving your body, even in short bursts, keeps your heart, muscles, and mind healthy all winter long. Lace up and get moving!