Finding Motivation This Season: Quick and Easy Ways to Stay Active

Finding Motivation This Season: Quick and Easy Ways to Stay Active

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of “winter blues” that comes with changes in weather, shorter days, and cooler temperatures. For many people, it tends to kick in during autumn and winter, impacting about 7% of the UK population.

Those affected can experience stress, low mood, trouble concentrating and a dip in confidence.  This is caused by lack of sunlight impacting the hypothalamus region in the brain, reducing production of the happy hormone, serotonin and also increasing levels of melatonin, making you feel sleepy.

While there are several ways to tackle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), there’s widespread agreement in the medical community that regular exercise—especially outdoors—is one of the best ways to lift your mood and keep the winter blues at bay. The tricky part? SAD can make it harder to feel motivated to get moving. To help you stay on track, here are some tips from our award-winning fitness expert, Dean Hodgkin, on how to stay motivated when those common challenges arise.

For those with little to no time

• Monitor your daily activities for one week and identify at least three 30-minute time slots you could prioritise for physical activity.
• Add physical activity to your daily routine. For example, walk or ride your bike to work, exercise while you watch TV and start to park further away from your destination.

For those in need of support

• Explain your interest in physical activity to friends and family and ask them to support your efforts.
• Invite friends and family members to exercise with you. Plan social activities involving exercise.
• Rather than go solo, join a group exercise class to develop new friendships with physically active people.

For those with low energy

• Schedule physical activity for times in the day or week when you feel energetic, e.g. avoid early workouts if you’re just not a morning person.
• Remind yourself that if you give it a chance, physical activity will increase your energy levels.

For those with limited resource

• Select activities that require minimal facilities or equipment, such as walking or jogging.
• Identify inexpensive, convenient resources available in your community for example a park run, activity-based charity fundraisers, workplace wellness incentives.

For those with family commitments

• Exercise with the kids, go for a walk together, play tag, frisbee or even ask them to join you in a virtual workout in the lounge.
• Invest in some quiet home fitness equipment you can use while the kids are sleeping.
• Schedule exercise sessions in your diary during school hours or nap times.

If you need help to achieve your goals don’t hesitate to contact our

HEART + SOUL FITNESS Team

Ext. 318 or fitness@ragdalehall.co.uk