I don’t know about you, but I love getting outside and getting in some physical activity in the summer. Hiking, biking, swimming, even running outside, you name it! It’s genuinely fun, so it doesn’t feel like a workout at all. But somehow getting in a work out during winter seems just about impossible.
For those of you who live in the midwest, you know exercising outdoors is pretty much out of the question for much of winter. Meaning options are severely limited and most of what I would think of as “fun” workouts are off the table for a few months.
Luckily, I’ve come up with a bunch of strategies to help me stay motivated to work out during winter!
HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED TO WORK OUT DURING WINTER
Put It On The Calendar
I definitely feel my motivation to work out slip during the winter, and I can be pretty inconsistent about it.
But one thing I’m WAY better about committing to? My CALENDAR! My Google Calendar is how I organize my entire life and to-do list. So if I want something to done, I add it to the schedule.
This is always a great strategy for me for getting things done. I put it on the calendar when I have LOTS of motivation. By the time it comes time to work out, I probably don’t have as much motivation. But the fact that it’s on the calendar is a reminder to myself that it’s super important to me, and I have to do it anyways.
Plus, it’s one of those things that you dread doing it, but you’re SO happy you did once you get started!
Create a Routine
If you read this blog often, you know that I talk somewhat obsessively about creating habits and routines. MOST of the things you do in a day are by habit, meaning if you have unhealthy habits, you’re living a pretty unhealthy lifestyle.
Routines are essentially just a series of habits put together. Putting all these habits on autopilot makes you WAY more likely to do them. So when you’ve got a really healthy daily routine, you’re living a healthy lifestyle without having to think about it all that much!
I am SO much more likely to stick to my workouts if they’re a part of my routine. I work out a few evenings per week, and it’s always the same ones. Those workouts are a part of my routine.
And in my morning routine is yoga. I get up, wash my face/brush my teeth, start a pot of coffee, and then start my yoga. I literally just do this on autopilot, so I can turn on a yoga video and put out my yoga mat without even thinking about it.
There are also other ways of making sure your workout becomes a part of your routine. If you go to the gym in the evenings to work out, put your gym bag next to your purse (or whatever you take to work with you) to make sure you grab it in the morning. Then go to the gym BEFORE you go home in the evening so you have less of a chance to talk yourself out of it.
Work Out at Home
Living in Wisconsin, exercising outside isn’t really in the cards. By the time I get home from work at night, I’m lucky if the temperature is still in the double digits. Plus everything is covered in ice and snow and running in that is a SERIOUS falling hazard.
It’s also tough to push myself to go to the gym in the winter. It’s so cold and depressing outside, and once I’m home, I do NOT want to leave.
But I don’t use that as an excuse to skip my workouts! Instead, I just work out at home.
If it’s in the budget and you’ve got the space, you could always spring for a piece of workout equipment like an elliptical or a treadmill. If that’s not in the cards, there are still LOTS of options.
I’m a big fan of yoga and pilates, which I can do right in my living room.
I also love the app SworkIt. You basically pick what workouts you want to do and it puts together a circuit training workout for you.
Finally, there’s YouTube. Seriously, there are SO many workout videos on YouTube, so you can try a new one every single day and never get bored!
Sign Up For an Event
If you need a little something extra to push you this winter, consider signing up for an athletic event such as a 5K, 10K or half marathon (or regular marathon, if you’re that ambitious.) for the spring.
Knowing that you need to train will be the motivation you need to get moving until the big event. And by the time the day of your run comes, it will hopefully be nice outside again!
Upgrade Your Workout Gear
One thing I know about myself is that if I have new workout clothes, I am going to work out. I don’t know what it is, I just get REALLY excited about new workout clothes!
Once in a while if I feel myself slipping into a slump, I treat myself to a couple of new pieces of workout gear. I work out inside for the most part, so a cute tank top of a pair of shorts can be worn year-round. I get all of my workout clothes at either Target or Burlington (they have amazing deals on workout clothes!)
New workout gear can also help completely change your workout routine. One year I was running outside a lot. When late fall rolled around, I figured I’d just start going to the gym to avoid the cold. Except I hate going to a gym, so I never went! So I went to a thrift store and bought myself a nice long-sleeved workout thermal (for a SUPER low price). That one change completely changed my workout routine because I started running outside again every day, rather than thinking I would go to the gym and then NEVER going.
BEFORE YOU GO
Make sure to check out these other posts you might like on Refined Revelry!
- 7 Things to Do on Sunday For a More Productive Week
- How to Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve
- How to Start a Side Hustle and Make Money From Home
And don’t forget to sign up for my FREE 6-day goal setting challenge where I teach you to set goals and create a long-term action plan to ensure you reach those goals!
Hi, I’m Erin! I’m an online educator and content creator who helps women reach their goals by teaching them to manage their time and their money. I want to help you design a life you love, so I’m sharing everything I know about goal setting, productivity, planning, and personal finance. You can read my full story here!
I definitely find ways to work out in doors since we are having below zero temperatures and worse with wind chill. But I do dress up and take my dog for a mile walk every day, just to get out. #showyourbloglove
Yep, we’ve got the same thing here!
I stay motivated by continually buying packs of classes to pure barre. That way, I know I have to finish them or risk losing them by their expiration date!
xo Jessica
http://www.whatsfordinneresq.com
That’s a great tip! I think investing some money helps a lot. I’ve heard so many good things about pure barre, but I’ve never tried it!
I love this!! I use all of these as well as a cheat day to stay motivated!
I do the same thing!
Such great advice! I’m staying motivated because Citrus season is coming lol <3
Thanks Becca! 🙂
Sticking to a routine and updating the workout gear are two things that definitely keep me motivated! Great post!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
Absolutely, thanks Shannon!
I bought the Tae Bo workout video on Amazon and that is tremendously helped me be more motivated to work out in the winter!
That’s awesome! I’ve done Tae Bo a few times with YouTube videos and it’s super fun! Honestly having a fun workout helps a lot 🙂
I really need to workout more now that it’s winter. In January I’m going back to bootcamp, but its indoors now, haha. I’m scared to go back because it’s hard. I really need to workout at home more leading up to it. Thanks for the motivation!
Yeah, I don’t think I could jump right into bootcamp either! Working out for awhile at home would be a great idea!
Marking the calendar and setting a routine are SO important. I haven’t been doing that and, well, I haven’t been to the gym this month! Eek. Must go. Thanks for the reminders.
http://www.HolisticHeadToToe.com
Thanks Jennifer, I totally agree!
I love these tips!! Having a goal to work for is super motivating and a routine is EVERYTHING!!
Thanks Emily! I love having workout goal to strive for!
Great tips! I agree that I do more exercise outside during the spring and fall. I’m a runner as well, so running outside in the winter is something that I will not do 🙂 I bring it inside and set a notice on my phone everyday and my husband keeps me accountable as well!
Yeah, I just can’t run outside in the winter. It’s literally -5 degrees here today, so no thanks!
Great tips! I’m all for staying motivated in the winter months by setting up workout, running (and bike and swim) dates with friends. When you have accountability from friends or your running/tri club partners, committing to fitness becomes very social too.
That’s a great idea! I have a few friends who go to the same gym, so we sort of keep each other accountable by letting each other know when we’ll be working out.
You’re so right about new workout gear being motivation to workout in the winter. I just got some capri tights from Marshall’s too and I am looking forward to going to the gym so I can wear them. They don’t work for outdoor running right now 🙂
http://runwright.net
Absolutely! I have given up on outdoor running for the season though lol
New workout clothes or a new song on the playlist helps get me motivated to exercise!
That’s great! I love a good workout playlist.
It’s definitely tough. I am supposed to do a long training run this weekend (like 25 miles) and the weather looks awful. I had so many excuses – I didn’t want to do it all indoors, didn’t want to slip due to snow or sleet. So I actually booked myself a trip down south for the weekend last minute to get my long run in with warmer weather. I don’t know if that’s true dedication or just craziness!
That’s awesome! Definitely dedication 🙂
Having it on my to do list daily is key! If you schedule it it happens!
YES! I live by my planner, so same here.
I used to hate the gym but I started going due to an illness to continue keeping my strength up. With the nasty canadian winter it is so hard to get motivated to go out and drive all the way to the gym, so i signed myself up for the gym that is literally a 15 second drive from my house so I have NO EXCUSE of why I can’t go haha
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you found what works for you.
These are wonderful tips! I find it difficult to go to the gym in the winter haha.
Thanks Jenny! And yep, I’m totally with you lol
Amen! Working out at home is always my back up plan, but with my 9Round literally like .25 miles away I have no excuse. I bring clothes and go there immediately after school each day- routine is key like you say!
That’s awesome! Our gym is also super close by, so that helps!
My hubby is getting me a mini trampoline for Christmas…THAT will keep me motivated to work out in winter!
Coming Up Roses
That’s so cool! I’ve seen some super fun videos of people doing trampoline workouts!
Great tips! For some reason, I just cannot for the life of me work out at home. I don’t know what it is. I just don’t take at home work outs as seriously at all. It’s a must that I go to the gym haha overall, I’m pretty good about keeping up the routine, but if I ever start to slide off the track, I just pick up some new work out clothes and instantly I’m motivated again! lol
I get that! I enjoy doing workout videos, but I know some people really don’t! I think it’s great that you know what works for you.
Putting it on my calendar is such a big help! I just have to remember to look at it during the holidays!
I’m the SAME way! I definitely have to grant myself a lot of grace during the holidays and acknowledge that sometimes it’s just not going to get done.
Calendaring has really helped me a ton this year, and certainly this winter! Can’t wait to get myself some nice new workout clothes to motivate me into the new year.
That’s great! I’m also thinking it’s time to pick up some new workout clothes 😉
Such good tips! Making it a routine has really helped for me!!
http://www.mollyonthemoveblog.com
I’m so glad you found it useful! I agree that incorporating it into your routine is essential!
This is so useful!
Thanks Alura!