When wintertime comes around it can be tempting to hide under a blanket as soon as you get home and stay there until you go to bed!

Dark nights and cold temperatures might make you feel like hibernating, but this could actually be more harmful to your physical and mental health than you might expect. To stay healthy and help your body ward off illness throughout the season, it’s very important to stay as active as you physically can.

In this guide we’ve covered three of our favourite ways to keep moving your body and feeling good until spring comes back around!

1. Start running with friends

You don’t need to be experienced to benefit from a jog in the park with company. But getting started can feel tricky, so if you’ve never done any running before it’s worth taking part in a kick-starter program like the NHS Couch to 5K.

Once you can confidently run a couple of miles, you have every reason to join your local club or get involved with friends. If you’re looking for a way to start running in a group, joining your local parkrun could be a brilliant way to hold yourself accountable and feel proud of your achievements as you develop into a fitter athlete.

If you’d rather keep it casual, why not start your own group with friends or neighbours? It’s a brilliant and time-effective activity – and going in a group makes running in the dark feel less daunting too.

2. Get on your bike

Next, we know it’s easy to overlook cycling in cold weather. But with the right gear and a positive attitude, you could quickly start to explore new routes and make amazing memories all while keeping fit on your bike.

There aren’t many sports simpler than cycling: all you need to do is get on the bike and start pedalling to get started. It’s worth taking time to browse some of the latest road bikes and find a model with the most suitable specifications for your fitness levels.

Once you’ve got a few rides under your belt, you could start heading out with your local club or even attend some winter events in your area. You and your bike can go anywhere, even in the middle of winter.

3. Try yoga or Pilates

Lastly, keeping fit doesn’t need to mean taking part in high-intensity cardio.
If you’re looking for a slower form of exercise or you’re simply not ready for anything quick yet, stretching or doing gentle aerobic exercise with friends could be a fantastic starting point. Yoga is a social activity, so you’ll be very likely to meet like-minded people and even make new friends too.

You’ll find a yoga class in most towns and villages, but if you live in a remote area, it’s just as easy to get involved. You can get connected with a virtual coach to practice and take part from the comfort of your own living room or home studio. It’s the perfect option for anyone looking to build strength and tone up their body without working too hard.