Tips on beating the winter blues

15 October 2020

None of us are strangers to the familiar winter blues that creep in at this time of year. And with us having tackled a considerably tough year already, and facing a winter with further restrictions in place, we thought now was a good time to shake off the doom and gloom with some tips on how to pull yourself out of the winter slump and stay on track.

As fitness enthusiasts, we are lucky to have the advantage of consistent exercise in our lives which naturally helps boost our mood through the release of endorphins. However exercise alone can sometimes not be enough to combat the body clock change we go through when heading into darker, colder months.

Feeling tired? Here’s why

During the summer months, our bodies are scheduled to wake up when the sun rises, so you can probably imagine how this affects our routine as the sun gradually takes longer to make an appearance each morning. To avoid feeling lethargic during the week, set your alarm early each morning between 6.30am and 7am to start a morning workout. We can promise you that you’ll have more energy during the day and feel on top of your game. (You might also see an awesome sunrise or two.)

Don’t hibernate, accelerate

Colder months can push us into a rut of spending all our time indoors but this is the exact vicious cycle that keeps us feeling blue for longer. Our advice? Snap out of hibernation ASAP and make time to go outdoors for some fresh air, preferably in daylight. As the days grow shorter we need to take advantage of what little sunlight there is, one way to do this is jogging distances instead of driving.

Be your biggest fan

Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated without a vision of what’s ahead. With your goals clearly set in front of you every day, you can easily overcome self-doubt and empower yourself to keep grafting towards the ultimate goal. Be your biggest supporter, by leaving motivational prompts and quotes on notes around the house, in your car, on your laptop screen, on your dumbbells, EVERYWHERE!

Look forward to your workout

You’ve got to pump it up! If you start to dread the daily grind it will no doubt start to affect your mindset. Take control back of your own mood and kick off the negative vibes by making a new workout playlist that you love, or buying new winter workout gear that you look forward to using. You could even take up a brand new course or hobby to expand your skillset and keep you inspired. You’ve got this!