Staying motivated to do anything during the Maine winter is hard. It’s cold and dark, and it’s much easier to curl up with a blanket and wait for spring. As appealing as that sounds, it’s not really an option, especially if you want to stay in shape over the winter. Motivating yourself to keep up with your workout routine requires more than just sheer willpower, whether you focus on strength training or prefer cardio machines like exercise bikes or treadmills.
Need help motivating yourself to exercise this winter? Here are some tips to help you keep up with your workout routine.
Make a Plan and Stick to It
One of the primary reasons people fail to keep exercising—at any time of year—is that they don’t set a routine. Even if you don’t do the same workout every day, setting aside the same time every day, or certain days of the week, to work out will make a huge difference in whether or not you stick with it. If you need to reduce or modify your workout routine because of the holidays or other obligations, that’s okay! The important thing is that you stick to the routine that you set for yourself.
Keep a Positive Mindset
Saying you’re going to stick to your routine is one thing, but actually doing it is quite another. It may sound trite, but the key to sticking to your workout routine is keeping a positive mindset. How you think about working out will affect your motivation to do it. For example, instead of focusing on losing weight, think in terms of building muscle or stamina. A positive goal is always more motivating than a negative one.
You can also reward yourself during or after your workout to motivate yourself. If you use cardio machines like treadmills or exercise bikes, use your workout time to watch your favorite show. No matter how you work out, you can reward yourself with a post-workout bath or a high-protein comfort meal.
Mix It Up When You Can
Even if you’ve gotten into the routine of working out every day or a few days a week, the monotony of doing the same thing over and over can get to you. If you find yourself getting bored with the same workouts, do what you can to mix it up. Instead of walking on your treadmill, pull on your snow boots and take a walk in the woods. You don’t have to venture far to find trails around here. If you enjoy team sports, find a local hockey or indoor soccer league to replace at least one of your weekly workouts.
