Tips to Stay Active in the New Year

Whether or not your 2017 resolutions are fitness-related, you might be wondering how to revamp your fitness routine after a busy holiday season and stay active in the New Year. During the winter months, it’s easy to fall out of the regular habit of going to the gym or staying active outside, especially if you live in a colder climate or spend a lot of time traveling. When the seasons change and the days get shorter, you may find yourself more lethargic or less enthused about the idea of commuting to the gym when it’s pitch black outside. According to Eat This Not That, the average person gains five to seven pounds every winter due to lack of activity, too much sleep, or potentially even seasonal affective disorder. While maintaining proper weight through working out is important, staying active for the long-term is really what you should aspire to. An active life helps protect against common deadly diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, as well as manage pain from chronic diseases and arthritis, according to Mayo Clinic. Staying active is about much more than weight loss, and more about longevity.

The Dangers of a Sedentary Lifestyle

Regardless of your end goal of getting to the gym - maybe it’s to shed a few extra pounds, train for your first 5K, or learn how to lift weights - the reality is it will help your health in the long term and set you up for success. When it comes to staying motivated, it often depends on our personality types and how we form habits. Some people prefer to have an outer expectation, such as that of a friend meeting them for a workout class, while others would rather go solo without the obligation of a particular time or routine. Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin sheds light on this interesting subject in her book, Better Than Before.

Tips to Stay Active in the New Year:

• For every 15 minutes of Netflix, do 5 minutes of bodyweight work. Since there always seems to be time for Netflix or your favorite TV show each week, challenge yourself to get moving every 15 minutes. Set an alarm or use a timer to hold yourself accountable to squeeze in a five-minute bodyweight workout. Do one minute each of pushups, lunges, squats, situps and planks every 15 minutes for an hour and you’ll feel energized by the end of your show. If you need a boost of competition to keep you motivated, start recording how many repetitions of each movement you fit into the one-minute drill and challenge yourself to improve each week.

• Schedule it. The easiest way to make time for a workout is to pencil it into your schedule. Whether it’s a walking meeting with a coworker or a trip to the gym, don’t let your busy schedule get in the way of making time. Experiment with morning, mid-day and evening fitness routines to figure out what best suits you and your personality. For an extra level of accountability, consider joining a gym where you pay a reservation fee for each class. You may find that the class cancellation fees ensure you stick to your workout schedule.

• Skip happy hour in favor of a workout class. When it’s cold and dark after work, you may find it challenging to convince yourself to go to a workout class instead of cozying up with a cocktail at happy hour. Make the decision easier by recruiting friends or coworkers to meet for a gym happy hour, where you can workout together instead of sipping on wine. Add even more fun by finding a new workout class to try together with a service like ClassPass, where you can search hundreds of gym classes in your city.

• Sign up for a race or event to keep you motivated. If you are the type of person that prefers to have an end goal to work toward, sign up for a spring or summer race and use the winter months to get into a training routine. Rally others to sign up too and challenge each other to stay accountable by checking in on a weekly group text message thread or email chain. The accountability may provide extra motivation to get to the gym on days you would have otherwise skipped it.

• Find a fun indoor activity. Perhaps during the summer months, you prefer hiking but can’t stand the thought of walking on a treadmill at your local 24-hour gym. Instead of convincing yourself to work up the energy to walk the treadmill, find an indoor activity you can enjoy as your winter sport when it’s too cold or rainy for your sport of preference. Perhaps there’s a local rec center where you can swim or an indoor rock climbing gym where you can take lessons. Take it as an opportunity to learn a new skill. The bottom line is - don’t let the unpredictable weather keep you from staying active.