Want to start a #winter #workout routine to stay fit even in when the weather is bad, but don’t have any suitable gear to wear to the gym or pool? The #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org are a great place to shop for lightly used sweats, shorts and other athletic gear, as well as exercise equipment. Start a routine, and you might just drop a couple of sizes! Then you can contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup to get rid of those ill-fitting clothes for good. Somebody might be able to use them, but not the fit new you! #ColdWeatherFitness
Tag: schedule a pickup
Stay Motivated to Exercise
Motivation is the first challenge when attempting to stay fit in the #wintertime, says Colorado Advance Orthopedics, especially if you’re used to staying active outdoors. Make workouts part of your weekly plan and set a goal for the number of days a week you plan to exercise. Set times based on when you’re most likely to exercise based on your rhythms, or target a minimum number of days or hours to create a flexible routine. And make your exercise fun! “Exercise shouldn’t be a chore. You’re much more likely to stick with your routine if you choose activities you enjoy.” #ColdWeatherFitness
Satisfying Your Midwinter Fitness Goals
Recommendations say that adults ages 18 to 65 years should attempt to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days a week, but that’s difficult during the cold, dark days of #winter. To meet goals even when the weather is treacherous, Brown University Health says, bring your exercise indoors. Join a gym, subscribe to an online fitness class or download a smartphone app that meets your fitness goals and current capabilities. Track your steps. Or stroll through your local office building, mall or big-box store. Any physical activity is healthier than doom-scrolling on the couch! #ColdWeatherFitness
How to Exercise in Winter Weather
It’s difficult to stay motivated for #exercise when the temperatures outside are sub-zero, Today says. Plan ahead to maintain a #healthy lifestyle schedule during #winter by having all the gear you need ready when you wake up — even if it means warm clothing for an outdoor workout. Having an exercise partner can help maintain motivation by helping you show up when you might not feel like it, even attending a virtual class from the privacy of your own home. If you belong to a gym, make a goal to just get there; once you’re there, you’ll be motivated to get at least a little exercise. #ColdWeatherFitness
Hygge and Wintertime Self-Care
You’ve probably heard a lot about hygge (hyoo-gah) from this blog and others. It’s the Danish concept “of creating cozy and convivial atmospheres that promote well-being,” said the Collins English Dictionary in naming it a Word of the Year in 2016.
At the center of the concept — perhaps not surprisingly, giving the streamlined, no-nonsense lines that have long characterized Scandinavian design — is simplicity. Hygge practitioners are encouraged to relax, light candles and swath themselves in warm blankets.
In a hygge home, everything has its place. Furnishings feature natural woods and fibers. Sightlines are uncluttered. There isn’t a surplus of tchotchkes, but everything one needs to be comfortable is readily available. It’s a space that inspires calm.
Hygge is said to lower stress and improve emotional well-being, or at least many of its tenets do. Warm, dim lighting is more relaxing than bright white lights, for example, and spending time with friends and family supports physical and emotional health.
Researchers found that the hygge lifestyle had significant positive impacts for women in a correctional facility in Denmark. Encouraged to share food and fellowship according to hyyge principles, the women’s moods and perceptions of safety improved.
If you aren’t yet in a hygge space, start by #decluttering. Eliminate any things — or piles of things — that you set aside for a later date and just haven’t needed since. #Schedule a #free #donation #pickup with ClothingDonations.org to get rid of some of that #junk.
Then, reorganize your #space to be a warm, inviting source of calm and contentment. Turn down the lights. Have blankets and slippers ready. Offer guests a warm beverage, bake some cookies or relax with a good book instead of doom-scrolling through the mind-clutter of social media.
“The important thing to remember is that your #environment does influence how you feel,” environmental psychologist Sally Augustin told Everyday Health. “You can take control of your environment and actually make it really good.”