Winter has arrived, and depending on your location, you might be facing snow, ice, and freezing temperatures that make staying under a warm blanket tempting. But for some, winter unlocks a world of seasonal activities that aren’t available any other time of year. Regardless of your preference, winter is here…
For those who love staying active but aren’t fans of the cold, it can be a challenge to keep moving during these months. If snow isn’t your thing but you still want to stay active, consider embracing winter sports, exploring outdoor hobbies, adapting summer activities, or finding ways to stay active indoors.
The best way to choose a winter activity is to think about what you enjoy in the summer. If hiking, canoeing, or swimming are your go-tos, you might enjoy winter sports that offer a similar thrill. Snowshoeing, skiing, and ice skating are great cold-weather alternatives that not only keep you active but also help break up the winter monotony.
Instead of cranking up the heat and hibernating, try a new sport that keeps you engaged with the outdoors and moving in a fun way. While some activities are more intense than others, not every winter hobby needs to be a full-body workout. Low-impact outdoor hobbies can still get you out of the house and moving.
Making snow angels, building snowmen, and sledding are playful ways to stay active. Even metal detecting in the snow can be a fun, low-impact activity suitable for all ages. Ice fishing, bird watching, and photography also require time outdoors and light movement, even if they’re not high-intensity.
If you’re someone who usually hikes or walks daily in the summer, these lighter activities might not feel as fulfilling, but they’re still a way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. And just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite summer sports—you just need to tweak them.
Camping, jogging, biking, and rock climbing can all be adapted for winter. Even surfing is possible with the right wetsuit. Staying active outdoors doesn’t have to end with the cold; it just takes a few adjustments. Snowshoeing to a campsite, jogging in thermal gear, using wider bike tires, or finding a new climbing spot are all ways to keep your favorite activities going.
For some, braving the cold isn’t an option. If staying indoors is your only choice, that’s okay too. You can still stay active with indoor workouts. Join a gym, invest in home equipment, try a Wii workout, or focus on simple at-home exercises. While outdoor winter activities are fun, they’re not always practical for daily workouts.
That’s why many people prefer indoor routines like crunches, pushups, lunges, or yoga in the living room. These exercises keep you moving and warm at the same time.
The key is to keep moving during these tough months. If you prefer staying active through fun activities rather than structured workouts, it’s easy to lose motivation. But with options like winter sports, outdoor hobbies, modified summer activities, and indoor workouts, staying active in winter is totally doable—even if it just means getting up and doing something instead of binge-watching shows under a blanket.
