Lifestyle: 10 Tips to Keep Active this Winter

Winter isn’t the most obvious choice to set about starting a new active lifestyle when all we want to do is nest indoors, surrounded by familiar surroundings, warmth and mugs of hot tea. But with New Year around the corner what better time to start a new routine – you don’t need to wait to make your January resolutions.

Being active doesn’t need to involve the gym, going for a jog or a swim. Resolutions and a healthier lifestyle can begin today by making small and effective steps to your current lifestyle. Plus, you can then reward yourselves with all the seasonal goodies that winter has to offer. Hello Stolen and mince pies. Oh, and mulled wine. Ahem.

Today, I’m collaborating with my friends at Fenetic Wellbeing, a mobility company who exist to provide customers with the right healthcare and mobility products for their individual needs. Their current #WalkforWellbeing campaign is to encourage people of every age to get outdoors and be more active.

This felt quite timely, as although I feel I am an active person nowadays playing Roller Derby, walking Polly and running, I haven’t always been. And as much as exercise helps to overcome aspects of my anxiety, I struggle to pass on how beneficial it is to other people, my parents included, who at this time could really benefit from a more active lifestyle to help my dad’s Alzheimer’s and my mum’s health too. So, I have 10 tips to help them (and you) incorporate a more active lifestyle into your everyday whether you spend yours days at a desk or have simply got into a less active routine. P.S it doesn’t involve going for a run.

1| Use your car less and public transport more. Granted, it can be a pain in the derriere when the snow falls, but so can de-icing the car. A brisk walk to the train station and back will be beneficial. I’ve survived 36 years with no car, you can cut down your usage a couple of days a week very easily.

2| Drink lots of water which will prompt lots of trips to the bathroom (rather than being stuck at desk all day). Win, win all round!

3| Meet friends for a gentle walk and bring a flask of hot chocolate and picnic with you.

4| Buy new winter clothes to motivate your new active lifestyle. Here I’m wearing my new fair trade Shivani Shirt Dress from Nomads Clothing. The dress is ideal for most seasons and includes long sleeves, is made from organic jersey cotton and has pockets, and you all know how I love pockets in my dresses.

5| Incorporate an activity into your social plans with friends (not just the pub). Try skating, bowling or bike riding – great for kids too.

Outfit details: Shirt Dress c/o Nomads Clothing | Faux Leather Jacket and scarf via Zara (old) | Ankle Boots via Lotus Shoes (old) | Hat via New Look (old)

6| Book a trip to a new city and discover it on foot with your camera. There’s no better motivation to walk than discovering a new city!

7| Adopt a dog. This is a big commitment and something that should be thought about very carefully of course, but a dog will change your life. If you adopt a puppy, walk duration is only small to begin with, which helps you get used to the long walks in the years ahead. Offer to walk a family or friends dog if you can’t dedicate the time to one.

8| Rather than send an email to a work colleague, get off your bum, and see them face to face. Or if you were planning on calling your friend tonight, visit them instead.

9| If you prefer to drive your car try parking it further away from work or the shops etc. Every step counts.

10| Tidy the house during adverts on TV. Clean work surfaces, tidy away kids toys or give the room a quick hoover. My mum is the QUEEN of this so I’ll have to think of something else for her.

What are your tips to leading a more active lifestyle?

Disclosure: Collaborative Post