When winter arrives, many of us want to crawl under a blanket and basically hibernate until spring. It’s cold, it’s dark and the warmth to the indoors just seems so much more appealing.
As tempting as it is to be like a bear and just snooze until spring, there are very good reasons to get outside and enjoy what winter has to offer. Here are five reasons to start loving winter and kick that hibernation strategy to the curb:
Five reasons to love winter
1) Exposure to daylight is great for your sleep
2) We get vitamin D when we’re outside
3) Nature plus physical activity is the perfect one-two combo to improve our mood
4) Protect your mental energy and that of those around you
If you live in the northern climates, winter can last quite a while. If every time you have to go outside, you mentally groan about the cold and snow, what is that doing to your mood? I have friends and family that have taken to hating winter like it’s an Olympic sport and they are determined to get a podium finish. By resisting those things that we cannot change, we are wasting a lot of mental energy not to mention bringing down the people around us with our negative attitude.
5) Socialize safely
In this day of COVID, socializing outdoors is actually one of the safest ways for us to have some face-to-face time with those that we care about. While physical distancing is the name of the game during this pandemic, social distancing is not. With mental health issues on the rise, safe ways to socialize are critical to our well-being.
So, maybe I’ve convinced you that hating winter is not the best tactic but maybe you still can’t imagine how you can practically make it happen. It just so happen to have 5 ways to make the wintery outdoors more enjoyable for you!
Five way to love winter
1) Dress for it
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad wardrobe selection. If you’re always cold, then put on more clothes! I always say it’s easier to dress for winter than for summer. In winter, you can just keep adding layers if you’re too cold. In summer, you can only take so much off!
Seriously though, invest in some good insulating layers – wool, fleece, down, whatever it takes to keep you warm, and be sure you have something to break the wind. Remember, it’s not just your core that needs the protection from the elements, your head, body, hands, legs, and feet all need it. Don’t neglect any parts. And make sure you have something to cover your face against the wind (and any viruses you might get exposed to!)
2) Change your attitude
3) Pair your outdoor adventures with some entertainment
You may know that I’m a big fan of podcasts and audiobooks. Maybe you enjoy music. Whatever floats your boat, pair that with your wintery outdoor adventure. Even on the coldest of days, I’ll put on a lot of layers if it means I get out of the house to relax and enjoy a good book for 30 minutes. And hey, if audiobooks, podcasts, and books don’t do the trick for you, how about inviting a friend? You can listen to them! Just no complaining about the weather ;-).
4) Plan for the best part of the day
5) Try something new
So, there you have it, 5 reasons to enjoy winter and 5 ways to do it. Now you just need to get out there and get started!
Need some help figuring out how to stay active in the winter months (No, it doesn’t have to be outdoors!)? Consider a health coach to help you design an active lifestyle to keep you moving all year round, even during the depths of winter. Book a free consultation using the link here.