Keep it Going

Daylight is getting shorter and those after-dinner walks are almost out of the question now.  The other day I barely managed to mow my lawn after our evening meal, and I was in almost complete darkness for the last half of my endeavor.  Yes, it was a bit patchy the next morning. 

Exercise during the darker half of the year can be a challenge.  Many people don’t enjoy going to the gym.  Darker days mean less energy from the sun, and more of a mood to sit and sip a hot drink than to be active.  Getting up early in the morning is difficult enough without it being dark, now it seems almost impossible.  Evenings are cut short too.

As the active challenges increase, here are some suggestions that will help keep us moving.  First, develop a system.  If that means going to the gym, aerobics class, or video workout, do it at the same time of the day so it feels routine.  Before beginning the workout, pump up the adrenaline with some fast-paced music.  Don’t skip the stretch if you can help it.  Stretching is the reward for the effort you put into getting up and going.  It’s the time when stress falls off and contentment sets in.  Remember you’re not sitting out in the sun much these days, so take advantage of these mood-boosting moments whenever possible.

Although it is tempting to put the workouts on hold during these months, we will be so glad later if we stick to them.  Keeping active will help curb winter weight-gain and depression, and will boost productivity during a time when we might want to lag.