Winter Blues and Running Shoes
As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, are you struggling to stay motivated?
By Garrett de Jong - Dec 2021
We all know the benefits of physical activity for our body. However did you know it is closely tied with mental health?
Being physically active has shown to boost our mood, improve our sleep, and help you deal with depression, anxiety, stress, and more.
Here are some tips to get you going this winter:
You don’t need to feel good to start but you need to start to feel good. The time is now. Stop thinking about it. Humans are better at doing than thinking. Do more, think less, feel better!
Set ridiculously small goals. When it feels like the hardest thing to do is take the first step, then the goal should simply be to take the first step! You’ll be amazed at how often that first step turns into much more. But if it ends there that’s fine too.
You don’t need to feel good to start but you need to start to feel good.
Turn your excuses into opportunities. This next one may not be for everyone but it appeals to me so I thought I’d share it anyways!
There are times when we will have all the excuses in the world not to be physically active (weather, work, family, etc.). These moments are dreadful but they can also be powerful opportunities. Let me explain.
If we can build a habit even when we have every reason to sit on the couch instead, we are much more likely to stick to these healthy habits. If we head out for a run even when the weather is bad, we have to work late and our favorite TV show is on, we will be much more likely to also run when we have less distractions.
So if we can become mindful of these moments in our lives we can actually get excited about them instead of dreading them! It goes without saying to be reasonable with this approach. There’s a difference between building a strong habit and creating a dangerous obsession! Acknowledge when you need a break. And don’t feel guilty about it!
Once we create healthy habits we no longer need to use our finite amount of willpower. Being physically active will no longer be a chore, it is just something we do! And we will probably feel way better as a result!
