5 Ways to Stay Active In The Winter

Sigh, more snow. At this point in the season, my backyard officially looks more like the Kingdom of Arendelle after Elsa accidentally plunged it into an eternal winter than anything else. Two things can be gathered from that statement: (1) I have watched Frozen more times than I am proud to admit, and (2) there is simply way too much snow outside. With all this damp and frigid weather, it’s hard to find the motivation to do anything other than curl up on the couch with a container of chocolate covered raisins while binge-watching Community (or is that just me?). However, staying sedentary for 72 hours in a row is probably not the best thing you could for your health so here are some simple and convenient ways to get yourself moving despite the avalanche of snow outside your front door.

1. Shovel the snow.

Okay, so maybe this isn’t the most fun activity in the world but try and tell me it isn’t a killer workout. I shoveled my driveway by myself a few mornings ago and I gotta tell you, my arms are still burning. Not only is it a calorie burning monster, it also serves as both an anaerobic AND aerobic workout. Plus, someone has to shovel the pathways anyway so it might as well be you! Give your neighbors a welcomed hand and it’ll be a win-win for all involved.

2. Play outside.

I don’t care how old you are; playing in the snow is freakin’ awesome. Making snow angels, having snowball fights, sledding down hills and over makeshift ramps…it’s all a blast! And the best part about all this winter tomfoolery? It’s good for you. Who said you have to be miserable when you’re working out? Running around outside while smashing balls of frozen rain into your friends’ backs is just as good for your heart as is trotting on a boring treadmill. So hit up your friends or your siblings or your pets or your parents or the pizza delivery man and go have some fun.

3. Clean your house/apartment/hovel.

Look, I understand that you really hate the cold and the snow. Not to worry, there’s plenty of things you can do indoors that will keep you active and warm. Have you looked at your pots-and-pans cabinet recently? It’s truly a disgrace so you should probably organize it. And while you’re at it, clean out your pantry too. Are those crumbs on the floor? I think your carpet is in need of a Vacuuming every day. And be honest, when was the last time you mopped your bathroom floor? Look, you’re up and moving around already! Simple things such as scrubbing, organizing, or dusting are enough to get your heart racing so take a look around your house or apartment and get an early start on your spring cleaning.

4. Workout at home.

There are tons of different fitness DVDs on the market as well as free videos all over the internet that walk you through fitness routines that you can do from the comfort of your living room. Forget digging out your car or walking to the bus stop and instead pop in an Insanity DVD or press play on 8 Minute Abs and you’ll find yourself reaping all the benefits of the gym without having to physically drag your butt there. The options are endless so just do a little research and I’m sure you’ll find at least one workout that strikes a cord with you.

5. Do nothing.

Hey, we all deserve a break. I know you worked your butt off all summer and fall to get that killer body but now it’s winter and you just wanna eat carbs. Use this time of hibernation to create your fitness goals for the spring and summer and develop a plan of action. There’s only a few more weeks of winter left so you might as well enjoy the laziness while it lasts. Be productive with your time and have your goals in place so that come March, your body will be well rested and ready to go.

How do you stay fit in the winter?

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