Looking for ways to stay fit this winter? It’s that time of year when temperatures are dropping and days are significantly shorter. When working from home, it’s easy to make up an excuse not to work out or losing track of time and not getting outside before the clock strikes five and you have already missed out on all hours of daylight. This time of year it’s especially hard to find motivation to work out and stay fit, but in reality, it might be the only thing that is keeping many of us sane.
And it’s important to note that exercise boosts your immunity during cold and flu season – just a few minutes a day can help prevent simple bacterial and viral infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Today, we are sharing tips on how to stay fit and stay healthy this winter, so you can always be one step ahead.
SELECT A WORKOUT PARTNER TO KEEP YOU ACCOUNTABLE
If you’re working out alone, it’s hard to keep yourself accountable. Pick a workout buddy that you live with or a friend that is just a text away to keep each other motivated. An accountability partner will: help you stay motivated, keep you on track, be your own personal cheerleader, challenge you and serve as someone to check-in with daily. You can check in each day to make sure you are getting your workouts in!
HOME WORKOUTS
As the warmer weather slowly slips away, dust off your home gym equipment from earlier this year and roll out your yoga mat in your living room. By now, we all have all found our favorite YouTube video or App for an at-home workout. If not, check out our list of Quarantine workouts for the days when you’re missing the gym (and outdoor workouts!)
SIGN UP FOR PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS
Group fitness classes may be canceled for the next 30 days but gyms for individual exercise are still open for business. Look to local Detroit gyms that offer 1:1 training sessions – this will help support small local businesses and keep you fit!
SET GOALS AND SCHEDULE YOUR WORKOUTS AHEAD OF TIME
Planning ahead and setting a schedule for the week will give you structure, routine and a goal to work towards each day. On Sunday nights, take a look at your week and plan out the time and workout that you will do each day. Setting these goals will give sense of routine and keep you motivated to stay fit! Once these goals are achieved, you’ll be feeling amazing!
FOCUS ON YOUR DIET
Eating a well-balanced diet will help you achieve your fitness goals. Along with daily exercise, this is key to giving you energy, fueling your daily activity, and making you feel better physically. These tips from Healthline will help you fuel yourself correctly for exercise, staying fit and eating a well-balanced diet.
STAY HYDRATED
You know by now it’s important to stay hydrated and drink water on a daily basis. If you are working to get fit and exercise on a daily basis, water is an essential for optimal health. According to verywellfit, there are six reasons why it is important to drink water because it:
- Is an essential nutrient
- Helps with weight loss (and staying fit!)
- Reduces belly bloat
- Assists with digestion
- Keeps our skin healthy
- Helps our body function
TAKE A WALK DURING YOUR LUNCH BREAK
Even if you don’t have time for an entire workout, try to squeeze in a 10-15 minute walk during your lunch break. Getting outside and stepping away from your computer screen can also help improve your productivity when you return. This brief walk can also lead to changing habits, including more exercise, improved health and wellness and feeling fit! Also, getting out during your lunch break means you are getting the much needed Vitamin D that you would miss out on if you wait until the end of a workday to get outside.
