For some, the idea of exercising in the winter is utterly preposterous. Since you won’t be spending time at the beach, there’s no one to gawk at your flabby gut. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, the logic goes, it doesn’t make a sound. Unfortunately, this thought experiment doesn’t really apply because you actually are the forest, and it is you who has to lay around and be depressed all winter long.
Exercising in the Winter Can Improve Your Mood
In most places in the northern hemisphere, it gets fairly dark in the winter. Unless you somehow live in a permanent state of ecstasy, you probably get a little depressed during these darkest months of the year.
Exercise boosts endorphins and improves blood flow, giving you a distinct sense of well-being and accomplishment. While everyone takes a different amount of work to reach this feeling, pretty much any level of exercise is better than none. Over time, you may find that you look forward to your workouts because you know how you’ll feel afterward.
Working Out Counteracts the Effects of Alcohol
If you’re like most people, you probably drink a little more in the winter than you do in the summer. This is perfectly natural. Since there’s less to do outside, drinking with your buddies in the warm confines of your local bar seems a perfect solution.
Drinking is not particularly healthy, so you should do your best to counteract its effects on your body. If you prioritize exercising in the winter after a rough night, you jumpstart your hangover recovery and reduce the feelings of anxiety and depression that come with overindulgence.
Women Do Not Simply Cease To Exist in the Winter
Women who may judge you by your physical fitness, or men, for that matter, still exist in winter. You aren’t fooling anyone with that XXL no-zip hoodie.
Confidence is priceless, and when you look and feel great, you’ll act the part. It’s easy to let this become a feedback loop, in which you exercise more, feel better, and attract others through positivity.
Exercising in the Winter Is Great for Meeting People
If you’ve been hibernating in isolation, you’ve been doing things all wrong. Being with people is an important way to keep your mood elevated. Winter is perhaps the best time to socialize at the gym, studio, or wherever you decide to go for physical activity. Pretty much everyone is there for the same reasons — they’d rather not be cold, but they don’t want to be depressed.
The Cold Is Kind of Good for You
Lastly, it may surprise you that cold weather can improve your health. There’s a reason people ice swollen injuries. The cold decreases inflammation and helps to fight infection.
If you’re still hesitant about exercising in the winter, just give it a shot. If you aren’t glad that you made it outdoors, then feel free to head back to the sofa. But you probably will be. For more articles on manly subjects like this one, browse The Rugged Standard.