The weather during the winter season is always unpredictable. Some days the temperature could be incredibly cold. Other days, snow can be melting away while the sun shines bright. The uncertainty of it all is exactly why you should know how to safely exercise in the winter. To prevent yourself from getting sick or injured, check out our winter exercising tips below.
Dress for the Weather
Whether you’re working out at home or in the gym, it’s important to dress appropriately. The walks to and from the gym parking lot can be brutal if you’re not wearing the right clothes.
Dress appropriately by ensuring the clothes you wear are waterproof. If you wear absorbing fabrics, you can count on your clothes getting pretty wet as you sweat your way through a workout. Wet clothes and cold weather don’t mix at all. To prevent yourself from developing hypothermia and other cold weather illnesses, wear water-resisting fabrics such as polyester, polypropylene, and nylon.
Stay Hydrated
The colder weather can prevent you from feeling thirsty. While this may sound ideal for those workouts where you just want to power through, it can quickly become dangerous. If you do several minutes of intense exercise without water, you can quickly become dehydrated.
The effects of dehydration can be detrimental to your body. For this reason, it’s important you take extra precaution by drinking more water in the winter season than you normally would during other parts of the year.
Know When to Stay Indoors
The best way to safely exercise in the winter is knowing when you should stay indoors. Make it a habit to check the weather forecast as soon as you wake up. This will help you figure out what kind of weather awaits you and when it may be best to stay indoors.
Of course, brutal temperatures may not scare you away from driving to the gym, but keep in mind there will be days where snowstorms wreak havoc on the roads. Use your best judgement and stay home when you can.
Work Out in the Morning
The last way to safely exercise in the winter is to do so in the morning. This is more of an individual preference, however, there are many benefits to your mental health by working out in the morning.
During the winter months, the sun starts to set earlier in the evening. This can cause you to feel seasonal depression. To combat this, exercise in the morning and get your much-needed dose of sunshine. This will help you nurture your emotional and mental wellbeing.
These four tips are key to exercising safely in the winter. Don’t let the holidays and cold weather stop you from achieving your fitness goals. Stay focused and you will definitely have a productive season.
