Sport in winter: motivational tips against cold and bad weather

The most important things in brief

• Anyone who practices outdoor sports knows about the problem: in winter it takes a lot of effort to go outside to keep fit.
• The fresh air and oxygen ensure well-being and a good mood.
• But how can you motivate yourself in an emergency when it's cold and uncomfortable outside?
• On this page we have collected a few tips for you on how you can overcome the adverse weather conditions.

For many, the cold days are a good reason to reduce physical exertion as much as possible. It's far more tempting to curl up in a blanket on the sofa and watch the latest streaming movies with chips and candy. So only one thing helps to keep physically fit: self-motivation. But how does that work?

A mix of pressure and reward

A mix of self-imposed pressure and a reward is ideal. The latter can be anything: going to the sauna, a nice bubble bath at home or the aforementioned evening of series on the sofa, just after exercise - and without a lot of calories. You often feel great when you even make the jump to training, which is also a kind of reward.

Pressure? It works, at least in bulk. Only: You have to do it yourself, for example by telling your friends that you want to lose so much weight by summer or run a half marathon in spring. When people then ask how things are going, one would like to be able to answer honestly that one is at least making a serious attempt to actually achieve the goals.

Know when it's good

Once the weaker self has been defeated and we really want to go outside, we shouldn't overdo it. Excessive exertion could weaken the immune system. It is important to stop in good time or to be able to dose properly. At the same time, the idea that you're simply in a better mood after training - the movement releases endorphins - and that we have steeled the body's defenses also helps in overcoming it.

A good help is to develop regularity. Fixed sports and training times are ideal so that you don't have to make excuses. If you have sport on your calendar once a week, for example after work, you have enough time for mental preparation. And secondly, there is no reason not to take your sports bag with you when you leave the apartment on the said sports day in the morning, so that you don't have to go home after work. That's where the sofa beckons...

Eyes on the sport choice

If you hate jogging, you don't have to start in winter. A weekend trip on cross-country skis or a real ski tour in the mountains can have a greater effect. And: If it's really nasty outside, then indoor sports are of course also completely okay. Go swimming, squash or tennis!

The choice of clothing should not be underestimated when it is supposed to be fresh air. Neck warmers are always a good idea, a windproof jacket and especially thermal underwear are a must when the temperatures are in the basement. And because it gets light late and dark early in winter, it would make sense to wear light-colored clothing to be seen better. In addition, a headlamp, for example, is usually quite useful.