Introduction
February is here and with it comes the inevitable grumpiness and laziness that can sometimes come with the colder weather. If you’re like me and have trouble staying active in the winter months, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to stay fit even when it’s cold outside. Here are my top tips for staying healthy this February:
Get outside
If you’re looking for a way to stay active during the winter months, consider getting outside. The cold weather might not be appealing at first, but if you bundle up and bundle up some more, it can be surprisingly fun—and healthy!
There are plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors while staying fit:
- Hiking is one of my personal favorites; hiking boots will keep your feet warm as well as protected from any uneven terrain or ice that may have formed on trails. You can also choose another activity that involves being outside—such as cross-country skiing or snowshoeing—or simply walk around your neighborhood (with or without a friend). Just make sure not to overexert yourself in -20°F weather!
Try a new class
- Try a new class. The best way to stay motivated is by finding a workout routine that you enjoy, and different classes offer different benefits. You’ll never know if you like yoga or Pilates until you try them, so don’t be afraid to try something new!
- Ask for help if needed. If the class is too difficult for your skill level, feel free to ask the instructor for help or tips on how to do it better next time around. In some cases, they might even offer alternative exercises so you can still get in shape while being safe at the same time!
Examples of popular classes include:
Yoga – A great way of building strength and flexibility through meditation techniques and controlled breathing exercises
Pilates – A fun way of toning muscles without having any equipment required (other than mats). Pilates also helps improve posture which may lead down paths towards preventing issues such as back pain from occurring later on down the road
If it’s not fun, don’t do it
- Have fun
If you’re not having fun, don’t do it. Period. Even if the only thing that’s stopping you from exercising is that it feels like a chore, try to make it into something more enjoyable. It doesn’t have to be anything drastic—it can start with small steps like changing up your workout routine or even just going for a walk outside instead of on the treadmill at home. If exercise is super important to your overall health and happiness, then make sure that what you’re doing makes sense for you as an individual so that no matter how hard things get in life, fitness will always be something positive for yourself and your body.
Take a break
Don’t feel like you have to stick to your usual routine. Instead, try something new and different. If you usually run on the treadmill or hit the gym, go for a walk in the park instead. Take yoga class, even if it’s not your normal exercise routine. You don’t have to overthink it—just go with what makes sense for you at this moment! And if you feel like your health is suffering because of stress or other factors, try some deep breathing exercises, which can be done anywhere and easily fit into any schedule (even if that means just taking 1 minute out of every hour).
Celebrate your progress
- Reward yourself for all your hard work. After making it through the holidays, it’s easy to feel like you’ve already done enough of the healthy lifestyle thing. But if you’re treating yourself to a piece of chocolate or some fries, remind yourself that your motivation will likely fade after a few days. So reward yourself for doing well with something that doesn’t involve food! Maybe it’s getting an extra hour of sleep or spending time with friends/family who care about you and your health.
- Celebrate by giving back to others in need. In addition to celebrating yourself, consider giving back in some way during this month as well—whether that means donating money or volunteering at a local food bank, homeless shelter or women-in-need shelter is up to you! With February being National Volunteer Month (and Black History Month), now is an excellent time to make an impact on someone else’s life while also feeling great about yourself at the same time!
Don’t let the cold keep you from staying fit and healthy!
It’s important to stay fit and healthy year-round, but you don’t have to let the cold weather keep you from staying active during February. Here are some ways that you can stay fit this month:
- Go for a walk with your partner or best friend!
- Join a local gym or fitness center with classes offered during inclement weather.
- Try out an indoor sport like bowling or ping pong at your local bars/restaurants.
If you want some ideas of how to get moving during the new year, try these things out:
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, staying fit and healthy doesn’t have to be a complicated or difficult process. In fact, these tips are pretty simple to implement and can help you stay on track throughout the year—especially in the winter months when it’s tempting to lay low. So whether your goal is weight loss, muscle building or just getting healthier overall, here are some ways that you can get started today!
