Staying motivated this winter

Motivating yourself to get out of bed early and exercise when it is cold and dark outside is not easy. Often our soft, warm, cozy beds are much more appealing. This, combined with the desire to eat warm, richer foods like curries and pastas can make it difficult to stick to your health and fitness goals.

So how do we keep our motivation going during the winter months?

Check out our top tips below:

• Change it up. If you enjoy walking outside or swimming during summer, how about trying something indoors in winter? Yoga or Pilates in a heated room, hydrotherapy in an indoor heated pool or signing up to some online exercise classes you can do from the comfort of your own lounge room.
• Exercise with a friend. Studies show that exercising with a friend or partner increases consistency, commitment, motivation and inspiration, as well as laughter and fun!
• Set realistic goals. If the colder months are not your favourite time of year, don’t set yourself an unrealistic expectation to exercise every day. Instead, aim for 2-3 days a week and add in some incidental exercise or gentle stretching on alternate days.
• Change your schedule. If you normally go for an early morning walk but it is too cold and dark to get out of bed, go for a walk during your lunch break instead.
• Buy some new winter workout clothes. You know that feeling you get when you buy a new outfit and can’t wait to wear it, use that same motivation with some new exercise gear to keep you warm and comfortable in the cooler temperatures. 
• Set yourself a goal to achieve by spring or summer. Don’t forget to keep it real. Big goals such as running a marathon are great, but equally, if not even more important, is having the confidence to take your kids swimming at the beach, being able to walk up stairs without being out of breath, fitting back into your favourite jeans or simply feeling fit, healthy and happy.
• Find healthy recipe alternatives for your favourite winter warmers. Try swapping your traditional lasagna with zucchini lasagna or a creamy coconut curry with a low-fat alternative made with skim milk. And let’s not forget about all the delicious healthy soups that can be packed full of flavour, protein and veggies.
• Finally, find something that you enjoy. One of the easiest ways to stay motivated is if you find something you actually look forward to doing.

We hope these simple tips help to keep you motivated towards achieving your health goals this Winter.