It’s tempting to hibernate over winter, when it’s grotty weather outside and indoors you’ve got the biscuit tin looking at you… But you know that before long your mirror will be showing up your expanding waistline and your clothes start mysteriously shrinking. Like they do every year.
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Great Winter activities to keep you fit and motivated
The trick is to keep yourself mobile and active, preferably doing things that you really like. Roping a friend in really helps keep you both motivated, otherwise give yourself a reward. So now’s the time to look forward to these few months with your very own Winter Rescue Kit. Stuck for ideas? Simply pick at least two things from the following list of activities, put them in your calendar, and enjoy!
1. Rediscover walking
Many of us discovered the joys and health benefits of regular walking during lockdown, so why not carry on? Aim to go slightly further and, if possible, slightly faster each week. Dr Michael Mosely talks about this on his podcast here:
2. Make regular exercise part of your daily life
Carrying on the theme of exercise, did you know the majority of gym memberships are bought in January and never used beyond February? Well, start now and make a little exercise part of your daily life. Here’s that man again.
3. Do Some Winter gardening
You get free exercise by raking leaves, pruning trees and shrubs. As long as the soil isn’t frozen, you can plant a native, mixed-species hedge from rootstock. Also on non-freezing days, you can prune or even “lay” your hedgerows. This is a skilled country craft, so here’s a starter: https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/how-to-lay-a-hedge/
4. Chop firewood
Ideally you should be doing this during the Summer, but I always end up doing some in the winter. As long as it’s dry and not too windy, a few hours with the chainsaw, manual or hydraulic log splitter and table saw is great for your endurance and mobility. Plus lifting all that wood around tick the strength box too. Just wrap up well, have a regular supply of hot drinks and enjoy the watery winter sun.
5. Paint sheds and fences
I once painted my workshop on a freezing cold day in January! It was a still, clear crisp day with the sun shining and it was surprisingly nice. Just remember what the professional painters say, “keep your brush moving all the time” and you get a good day’s workout in the fresh air. The same goes for garden fences.
6. Give yourself a goal
Possibly the most important thing to do is to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects of Winter. Instead choose something really specific and special to you that you can look forward to next year. For example a holiday, special event, visiting someone or something special. Or more esoteric like the bluebells in full bloom. Coincidentally this week’s Book of the Week on Radio 4 is Wintering by Katherine May.
Remember, the secret to getting the most out of activities and exercise is to be mindful of what you’re doing. Aim to get your body moving, bending, stretching and reaching in all sorts of ways. This way you’ll get a great full-body workout along with stretching and mobility.
Bonus: Service and maintain your gardening and DiY tools
Give your gardening and DiY tools an annual service. Clean them thoroughly, sharpen anything with an edge, repair what you can or note what needs replacing. Get your lawnmower serviced now and avoid the spring rush. Tidy up your shed and plan what you want to grow next year, or sort out the garage and plan next year’s DiY projects.
