It’s winter. The days are shorter. The dark sticks around longer. And it’s highly likely you’re surrounded by snow. I know how tough it can be to motivate yourself to workout during this season. And I truly believe seasonal affective disorder is real and is a concern for many people.
But we can’t stop the seasons from changing, so we must change what we do to motivate us to stay healthy and stick to our workout regimens.
How do you do that, though? Well, I took to social media and asked YOU what you do to stay motivated. And growing up in Syracuse, NY, I have some tips of my own, as well.
Wear layers
Sometimes, the gym just doesn’t cut it. We’re tired of being cramped up in a stodgy building with grunts and sweat and too much pre-workout surrounding us. Plus, we’re craving vitamin D. It’s perfectly acceptable to take to the streets and run when it’s cold out.
The best advice we could give here is to wear layers. I’ve often heard (and practiced, myself) that you should dress for 10 degrees warmer than the actual temperature. This might mean it’ll be a bit cold when you start out, but as your body warms up, your clothing will give you the appropriate protection from the cold that you need.
Don’t believe me about running in the cold? One woman who follows RunningMyselfTogether on Instagram said, “I bundled up and ran 5 miles in the 28 degree weather. It made a world of difference. The fresh air was AMAZING!!!” And another follower shared, “I mean once you’re outside, you can either sit there and be freezing, or run to get some blood flowing and get a little warmer!”
She has a point. Just get out there and do it!
Set Goals
A lot of people responded with, “Goals.” And I couldn’t agree more. I find it difficult some days to motivate myself if I’m not working towards something. The beauty of “goals” is they can be your own… whatever sets your heart ablaze and makes you want to pound the pavement or pump some iron. Here are some examples:
- Stay in shape – I don’t usually talk about weight loss on here given my background (and some readers’ backgrounds) with eating disorders, but I will call this one out, because staying healthy during the winter is important. And as one Instagram follower put it, “Running keeps me sane and in shape.” Couldn’t agree more, girlfriend.
- Get stronger – Maybe you spent the majority of the year focusing on a running goal (like me). Use this time to focus on strength training.
- Keep anxiety and depression at bay – You won’t necessarily cure your anxiety or depression with working out, but you will feel an elevated mood and less stress.
- Run a faster mile – need I say more?
And that’s what leads me to our next point…
Sign up for Jan or Feb (or even March) race
There’s no better way to stay motivated (in my opinion) than to train for a race. (Yes, the actual training part takes motivation. I totally understand that.) When you have a plan in place you take out all of the heavy lifting (minus the actual work, of course). It’s much easier to get out the door and get to the gym if you know what you’re focusing on. Plus, knowing you have an end goal of a race and a date on the books keeps your mind focused and excited for reaching that goal.
If you are interested in your own personal running plan or to work one on one with me, email me at maria@runningmyselftogether.com.
Find your people
There is no way I would’ve been able to get through my marathon training if it wasn’t for my wonderful friends. I had friends cheering for me on the sidelines and then “running friends” who endured the training runs in the heat with me and made sure I survived each long run. They motivated me, helped me keep my goals in sight, and surrounded me with love.
Find you some running friends, friends.
Run during the day
One Instagram follower suggested running mid-day. This might be hard for some of us, because of our work schedules. But working out when the sun is still shining can be much more motivating than early mornings or late nights.
Start something new
After my marathon, winter came and I was burnt out. I spent a month of recovery with easy cardio and light weight lifting. When I was ready to get back into it, running just didn’t seem all that appealing. So, I gave Burn Bootcamp a try and have fallen in love. It’s tough. It’s different. And the community is great.
Use this time to try something new. I also got a lot of great recommendations for Orange Theory. I haven’t tried it, but people swear by it.
Use it as a form of self-care
“Considering it a part of self-care (for me de-stressing) and knowing I’m taking care of my health, which means I am a more productive member of society,” said one Instagram follower. If you know working out improves your overall well-being… then, JUST DO IT. For everyone’s sake. Please.
Build a routine
I briefly mentioned this above when talking about training for a race, but building a routine helps keep things consistent. For example, work out every morning or every evening after work. Or, create a daily plan like this:
Mondays – strength
Tuesdays – run club
Wednesdays – Treadmill workout
Thursday – fitness class
You get the gist… the goal is to keep it consistent and make it easy to remember what each day’s workout calls for. When you know what you’re doing, and what your plan is, you’re more likely to work out.
Run on a treadmill
Recently, I have been sharing my treadmill workouts on my Instagram. Treadmill running isn’t always fun, but when you mix things up, it surely makes the time pass by quicker. Below are some of the treadmill runs I’ve shared on Instagram.
And you can always try what this Instagram follower suggests: “Watching tv shows on my iPad or praying a rosary while running on the treadmill.”
Find a group to run with
I always find it much easier to go for a run when I know I won’t be alone. Especially, when it’s dark out. Here in Charlotte, we have lots of great run club. Also, they’re free and lots of them have beer at the end. Could you ask for more?
You can always check out ARC Running, which is the run club I lead here in Charlotte.
Give yourself something to look forward to
Reward yourself! Some Instagram followers suggested lining up a brunch after a run and relishing in a hot meal and hot shower. When you have something to look forward to, you can keep your mind on that and not your lack of motivation!
Singing…
Someone on Instagram suggested singing… I have no clue how this connects to running, but singing helps EVERYTHING, so I’m including it here.
Maybe the next run club I start will be a singing run club. Any takers?
Tell others what you’re working towards
One Instagram follower suggested: “Tell people my fitness goals. They can keep me accountable with going to the gym.”
Share your journey on social media using the hashtag #runningmyselftogether or ladies can join our Facebook group here. We’ll keep you accountable and on track towards your goals!
Or…
You can be like one person who said, “Nothing… you hibernate like a bear.”
Hey, it’s your journey. Just get there!
