Beating the Winter Blues
By: Iona Clark
Being from western PA, I am no stranger to cold, long winter days that seem to end at 5 p.m. with the sun’s setting. For most, all that is desired during these months is to curl up in bed.
Finding motivation in general can be difficult — and there are certain factors that make finding it even harder. For me and many others, one of these factors is the cold winter months. Whether you have a home gym or have to drive an hour to get to the nearest one, simply getting out of bed gets much, much more difficult when temperatures drop. It is a fact that feelings of depression worsen during wintertime, and depression leads to lack of motivation. With the lack of light during the winter months, it can be difficult to keep your mood up. Studies even suggest seasonal depression is worse for people in northern areas (like Philly!).
During these months, it can be excruciating to roll out of bed, put on an outfit, and trek to the gym. Oftentimes, when my “after class nap” alarm goes off, I snooze it multiple times until I am finally able to gain some motivation (which sometimes does not happen at all!). Once I am home in my room, I find it difficult to accept the idea that I will be out in the cold once again.
When the sun sets early, it sends a trigger to the brain to wind down and get ready for bed. This can hinder those who plan to exercise at night, perhaps after their academic responsibilities or job. On the flip side, the cold temperatures in the morning make it difficult to get out of bed and venture outside. It is known that during wintertime, it takes more energy to warm up muscles and joints. When it is cold outside, the body also requires more fuel in order to do work. This means that during these months, there is more effort required to get a good workout in.
With these two ideas in mind, I am sure you can see why the wintertime makes it harder to gain the motivation to keep the body active. In the warmer months, I simply put on shorts and a t-shirt and am on my way. I do not have to worry about coming home to darkness at 5 p.m. or getting up to freezing temperatures. I do not have to dress for the weather or decide what layers to wear for the walk alone.
However, most gym-goers would agree that the worst part is simply getting ready and prepping your mind and body to get out of its seclusion of a bed or safe space. For me, once I am finally at the gym, I feel good. I feel accomplished before my workout has even started, because I know that I beat my own thoughts of wanting to relax at home rather than suit up and go to the gym. This feeling trumps all of the previous feelings surrounding the lack of motivation.
Although it can be a battle to beat these feelings, there are some things I find myself doing to make the commitment to the gym easier.
Grab a buddy
I find it extremely useful to have a gym partner. Not only does having a partner hold you accountable, it can be more enjoyable to work out with someone else. Having someone that will routinely join you in exercising will make the idea of working out less daunting and more similar to a casual hangout.
2. Schedule
I find that setting a schedule, even a rough idea of days, can be very beneficial in gaining motivation. For example, I’ll make a goal that I will go to the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and that way, I can mentally and physically prepare myself in advance.
At the end of the day, don't pressure yourself to do more than you can, especially when keeping in mind other responsibilities like school and work. And remember — the sun will come out again.