Why You Should Stay Active in the Winter
Some of us just aren’t winter people. It’s cold, it’s dark, and our favorite summer activities are taken away from us while the ground is covered in snow and ice. Other people are snow bunnies. They can’t wait for the snow, get excited when it’s time to break out their winter clothes, and are glad there’s no more sweltering summer heat. No matter which person you are, there are positives and negatives with each season.
However, even if you tend to favor the warmer months, there are reasons why you should stay active in the winter months. Not only are winter sports amazing, but you’ll keep your fitness stamina all year-round. With all the holiday food, you’ll be able to maintain your health while improving any mental health issues that the winter months can cause.
Because Winter Sports are Awesome
Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding are all amazing outdoor activities you basically can’t do any other time of the year. It’s exciting and fun to get out in the snow and experience the outdoors on a board or some skis. And, if you’re into a slower paced activity, things like snowshoeing are great too.
There are also plenty of winter activities that double as summer activities if you’re looking for an activity that can bounce between seasons. It’s a great way to take advantage of the few hours of sunlight while staying warm. Though the temperature may be cool, these activities are as much a workout as they are fun.
You’ll Keep Your Fitness Stamina
For people who are most active in the summer, there tends to be a rollercoaster of ability that happens between the seasons. By the end of the summer, you’re fit and advanced at your chosen activity. When the winter hits, you are forced out of your activity and take a few months off due to your distaste for the cooler months. Then it gets warm and you have to build your fitness and ability back to what it was before your winter slump. If you keep yourself active, even by choosing another activity, you’ll maintain that fitness stamina until the temperature rises and you can take up your sport again.
Staying active is important for a number of reasons. For one, sitting for too long each day can be extremely detrimental to your health. Winter tends to push our activity level down and keep us indoors. Even if you’re not crazy about outdoor activities, even maintaining indoor gym sessions or fitness classes can be better for health and help maintain stamina.
It Keeps Holiday Indulgences in Check
Along with snow, cold, and winter activities is the holiday food that comes with the colder seasons. With so many holidays and wintery treats, keeping up with a winter activity can be exactly what you need to balance the extra goodies with exercise. With wearable technology expanding and keeping people aware of their activity levels, more people are breaking out the winter exercise wear to keep themselves moving during the holiday season. You don’t have to go skiing every weekend, either. You can just get more bundled up for walks or get the gear needed to do some winter running.
Staying healthy isn’t just about exercising your muscles. It’s about keeping your brain healthy too. Nutrition and fitness health are so important to mental health that it’s a major staple in things like recovery centers, mental health treatment, and many other physical health problems. By staying active in the winter, you’re balancing the extra food you get during the holidays while also boosting your overall health and mental wellness during a season that can cause you to feel down.
Activity Helps Battle Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is common for many people affected by the changing seasons. It tends to be more common in areas like Canada and Alaska than in places like Florida. This is a major depressive condition that has some serious effects on those that live with it, though there are varying degrees of SAD.
Treatment includes counseling and therapy, and healthy lifestyle habits can help battle the symptoms of SAD as well. Getting outside or staying active can help to obtain more sunlight and increase endorphins in your brain. For this reason, staying active can be a major help in managing SAD symptoms. Not only that, but getting outside will reveal an entirely different side of winter that many people with SAD never get to experience due to the feelings of depression, fatigue, and irritability that go along with the condition. In truth, winter can be beautiful, quiet, and calming if you’re willing to get out and see it.
Winter isn’t everyone’s thing. Some people would much rather hibernate when the temperature drops instead of throwing on some boots and heading outside. Everyone is different, but it can be important to work through those feelings in order to keep yourself active during the winter months. It will not only keep your stamina up and balance your extra holiday food intake, but help combat the symptoms of SAD. So even if you’re not fond of the cold, give winter a chance and keep yourself active.
