Have the winter blues got your child feeling unmotivated?
When it’s cold it can be hard to stay motivated. We tend to take on a “snuggle up” mentality meaning we eat more and do less – human hibernation!
Regularly exercising during the colder months helps to create the body our children feel more confident in during the warmer months. It also regulates our intake of fresh air when we don’t look forward to leaving the house and keeps our heavy food cravings at bay.
Here are our top tips to stay motivated when the temperature drops:
MAINTAIN HEALTH DURING FLU SEASON
Regular exercise strengthens the immune system so it can fight off the flu. When you exercise and get your blood pumping, immune cells circulate through your body more quickly helping them seek and destroy infections. But this boost only lasts for a few hours, so exercise needs to be regular for long-term effects.
BEAT THE WINTER BLUES
A daily workout releases feel-good, de-stress brain chemicals giving you a break from the daily grind and helps ease depression. We know that after exercise, the brain releases the “feel-good” chemicals serotonin and dopamine, which can help to reduce anxiety and depression while boosting wellbeing. 45 minutes a the day could change your whole outlook on winter!
AVOID WINTER WEIGHT GAIN
In the colder months it is so easy to turn to comfort food, because it’s so satisfying and it makes us feel good, well for a little anyway. This is why winter is typically known as the ‘weight gain’ period as the average person puts on up to 4 kg across these months. To stabilise your weight, go back to healthy habits with regular exercise and healthy meal substitutes, to combat the excess sugar and calories we may consume.
YOU’LL FIGHT WINTER FATIGUE
If you’re feeling lazier when the temperature drops, you’re not alone. Shorter days mean less sunlight, so your brain produces more melatonin in response, leaving you fatigued. Your body is also producing less vitamin D than what it’s used to, which can cause tiredness. Exercise helps regulate genes, strengthens bones and improves your immune system, among other benefits.
