7 Winter Motivation Tips to Keep You Focused on Your Goals

Maintaining the motivation to exercise and eating well can be an elusive task no matter what time of year it is. But for most of us, those dark, cold, dreary winter months are totally remove our charm Stay active and eat healthy. That’s why we’ve put together this list of winter motivation tips to help you achieve your goals.

So whether you’re looking for ways to keep up with exercise or eat right, we’re here to give you some support. Here are seven tips that are sure to boost your motivation, no matter how dreary it seems on the outside.

1.Make a plan

When planning your attack against the slow, forgiving winter months, your first line of defense should be to have a plan – this applies to both exercise and diet.

Schedule your workouts so you know exactly what you’re going to do and when. If you don’t have to think about what you’re going to do when it’s time to exercise, then it will be easier to start exercising.

When it comes to food, the line between “indulging a little” and “stuffing yourself completely” can sometimes be confusing. To help you overcome trigger foods (looking at you, Thanksgiving), think about what you are going to eat in advance.

What foods will be in the meal? What are healthy portions of those foods like? Answering these questions before facing a plate of marshmallow-covered sweet potatoes can help you avoid overindulging. And if you really think you can’t handle a triggering buffet, ask a trusted loved one to fill your plate.

You can also bring a dish that you know is healthy if you’re worried there won’t be enough nutritious options at the banquet.

2. Change things

“Monotony has a way of sapping motivation to exercise, so one of the first things you can do to maintain it is to inject some variation into the stubborn routine you’ve been stubbornly following for months (or even years),” he says. Trevor Thieme, CSCS. . “Now is the perfect time to sign up for that boot camp or spin class you’ve been looking for.”

Changing your routine can only help you stay interested, but it can also change the demands on your muscles. stimulating new growth and fitness gains (including weight loss). In other words, “adding variation to your exercise program is the key to going through a training plateau – or avoid hitting one in the first place,” says Thieme.

3. Surround yourself with motivating words

Promote podcasts and inspiring TED talks instagram accounts and YouTube videos, and even strategically placed sticky notes can help you reframe a negative, sluggish mindset and stay motivated and focused on your goals.

If you have trouble finding the right words, David Goggins I can probably give you something. Goggins, a retired Navy SEAL (and former world record holder for most pull-ups in 24 hours), will make you want to run an ultramarathon when you finish one of his YouTube videos. The youtube channel Get inspired It’s also worth checking out as it offers inspiring thoughts, insights and tips to stay on track with your goals.

But above all, do your research and find the voice that speaks to you. you. Sometimes even a simple motivational quote Glued to your mirror can be the trigger that turns lethargy into positive action.

4. Find a training partner

Few things motivate as much as responsibility. If you know a training partner It’s up to you to attend a workout, you’re much less likely to fail at your fitness plans. This translates into greater consistency in training, which is the key to achieving any fitness goal.

Accountability is just one of many benefits to exercise with a friend. Sweating with other people also increases exercise effort (through friendly competition), exercise enjoyment (another powerful motivator), and even athletic performance (because it’s human nature to try harder when others are watching).

5. Focus on winter-specific activities and foods

“Accept activities you can only do during the winter, like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing,” Thieme says. Knowing that you won’t be able to do these activities year-round can change your perspective from “ugh, it’s so cold and so sad” to “I’m so excited that I can finally snowboard. I’ve been waiting for this all year! “

This also applies to food. Try some new recipes that feature winter. fruit and vegetables. Root vegetables (such as potatoes, beets and parsnips) are at their best and most delicious during the winter months and can easily be roasted as a tasty side dish or mixed into hearty roasts, soups and stews.

6. Get the right equipment

Once you’ve found your favorite winter activity, the next step is prepare. “If you don’t have the right equipment for the environment or the climate, it’s going to be a big obstacle as far as motivation is concerned,” Thieme says.

It’s also not safe to be outside in cold weather without the right gear, he adds, so invest in warm, lightweight clothing. Throw on a merino wool or fleece hoodie to insulate your core, keep your head warm with a beanie, and make sure you don’t lose too much heat through your hands with windproof gloves.

Also make sure your footwear is appropriate for your activity (you will need leggings to run with snowshoes, for example). Your excuses for skipping your workout will diminish when you know you’ll feel comfortably warm and protected, even in the harshest outdoor environments.

7. Let yourself be pampered a little

“An occasional feast won’t sabotage your progress toward your fitness or weight loss goals,” says Thieme. “The problem comes when you get used to overeat“, says. Indulging can help you maintain the balance between staying motivated to eat healthy and giving up out of frustration.

Give yourself permission to have a little fun, enjoy your favorite treats from time to time, and don’t be too restrictive. After all, the holidays are a time of celebration! Just be sure to limit indulgences to a few specific nights or events, and remember that having an indulgent meal doesn’t mean you’ve failed; On the contrary, it can be part of a balanced meal plan for the holidays.