Cold, winter days can often lead to thoughts of curling up under a blanket, kicking back on 
the couch, and putting on your favorite holiday shows. But, to enjoy the colder season to the fullest, it’s best to keep ourselves active and healthy. Adopt the following tips to increase your movement during cold weather.
Make a conscious choice to be active: It’s not just going to happen. We are creatures that want to hibernate, so it’s a conscious choice to stay active in the winter months. This doesn’t mean that we have to go to the gym, but we can add regular activity throughout our day.
Start with 10-minute fun activities: A 10- or 15-minute walk is good, too, if that’s all you can get. You’re going to walk a more quickly when you’re outside and it’s cold. When it’s snowing, kids love to be out in the snow. But as adults, we need to take that cue and go join them for a little bit. You will have fun before you know it!
Dress in layers: Pay attention to your hands, feet and face. The outer layer needs to protect you from the wind and moisture. If it’s really cold and you’re really uncomfortable, it’s probably not a very good idea to be outside, but we get a lot of days in Kansas where it’s a little chilly and not too bad.
Move Indoors: The three things you should focus on are strength, flexibility and balance. Strengthening and stretching exercises can be pretty simple, either with specialized equipment or using body weight. You can also do arm curls with cans of vegetables while watching TV, or buy resistance bands and follow the diagrams that come with the packaging. Small jumps, or hops, around the home help to build bone strength. Simple hops may feel silly for adults to do, but you can be creative to do what works for you. To improve balance, try standing on one foot when brushing your teeth or washing the dishes. Try various stretches to improve your flexibility such as the ones found in the Keys to Embracing Aging: Physical Activity Publication.
By: Ashley Svaty
