Getting fresh air and staying active are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, exercising on cold dark days can help boost your body’s ‘feel good’ endorphins to reduce stress and cope with the winter blues.
Don’t let winter weather stop you from exercising! You can continue to exercise outdoors if you are prepared.
- Dress in layers to keep yourself warm and dry. Choosing thin layers of synthetic material (dryfit, polyester, nylon) will trap body heat and keep your skin dry. Cotton fabrics tend to hold on to moisture which can make you cold.
- Wear warm socks, gloves, and a hat. Keeping your hands, feet and head warm is your first defense against cold weather.
- Make sure that your shoes have proper traction on snow and ice and avoid areas that appear slippery. Serious hikers and runners can purchase specialty shoes that are better in ice and snow. Traction cleats, meant to be worn over existing running or walking shoes, can help improve traction
- Apply sunscreen on exposed skin. You can still get sunburned in the winter, and snow can reflect as much sun as water in the summer.
- Apply moisturizer and be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Cold winter weather will dry out your skin and your airways.
- Wear reflectors or bright colors. There is less sunlight in the winter, and you need to make yourself more visible to others.
The bottom line: keep yourself warm, start with a 5-minute warmup and end with a 5-minute cool down or gentle stretching. Consider inviting a friend or spouse along and take a cellphone in case of emergency. If the weather is too bad, stay home and work out by dancing, streaming an exercise video, or completing active housekeeping tasks.
Make a point of regular exercise no matter what the weather, inside or outside, and you will feel great and maintain good health year-round.
