I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to stay motivated during the winter months. I was born and raised in New England, and I’ve lived in Maine for the better part of the last 16 years. If you know anything about Maine, you know our winters are typically cold, icy, and we are often buried in snow. It’s the norm to bundle up in a warm blanket and sit by a fire to keep toasty during those especially cold days.
It’s not only the weather that has me off my game. I find myself particularly distracted during the holiday season. I am all about Halloween, Thanksgiving, and most importantly, Christmas. I get the adult version of “Senioritis,” where I just can’t focus on my work. I would rather be shopping for holiday gifts, playing games with family, and catching up on my favorite holiday movies, than working my 9-5 job.
It’s difficult not to take a hiatus from responsibilities during the wintertime.
4 Ways To Stay Motivated In The Winter
If any of these challenges ring true for you, you’re in luck. Whether you’re battling Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), you’re dealing with a case of the winter blues, or you’re having trouble adjusting to the time change, don’t fret.
Here are some simple ways you can keep motivated in the winter:
1. Schedule evening activities.
I am all too guilty of heading straight home after a day of work. There’s little I enjoy more than driving home at five o’clock to see my fur babies and fiancé.
But, do you know what usually happens? The moment I walk inside my house, I kick my shoes off and plop myself down on my couch. I sit there all night, watching television until it’s time for bed. What good is that? Don’t be like me: stay busy!
Make plans after work so that you’re not stuck in your house wasting the evening away. Even though it’s darker earlier in the wintertime, you can still make plans to keep yourself busy.
Schedule dinners with friends, head to the gym, or join an indoor sports club. Busy yourself with hobbies to ensure the early darkness does not affect you too much.
2. Set goals for yourself.
When I am feeling sidetracked or lazy, goal-setting gives me purpose. Whether it’s a short-term goal, like losing 10 pounds by Thanksgiving, or a long-term goal, like saving $5,000 in 2020, goal-setting can help you stay motivated.
I find that when I am less strict with myself, I often push my goals to the wayside. It’s all too easy to lose sight of your goals when the days feel shorter and your only desire is to lay in bed and stay warm. Try to encourage yourself to get up and get moving, especially on those cold days. You’ll never reach your goals if you let the winter blues set in.
One goal might be planning a trip! You could do a girls’ weekend away or plan a ski trip with Bluehouse Skis. There are so many ooptions!
3. Make use of your time indoors.
Unless you’re a frequent skier or you love shoveling snow, you probably spend your free time inside during the winter. Rather than spend this time sitting on the couch, make use of it!
Catch up on your reading list. Consider taking online classes to help you advance your career. Go back to school online and earn those credits you’ve been meaning to catch up on. Start a blog, a vlog, and/or website. Write a book, launch a podcast, or design a new bullet journal.
There are so many ways to spend your free time indoors that don’t involve social media or the television.
4. Consider creating an exercise zone in your home.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll find every reason out there not to go to the gym. I’m not an athletic person and I genuinely do not enjoy working out. It takes a lot to get me to make the effort to exercise, and a cold, snowy day is just the excuse I would use not to. If this sounds like you and you know you won’t get to the gym on a winter’s day, consider dedicating a space in your home to exercise.
Even people who live in the smallest of apartments have some space to do this. These days, you can stream workouts on YouTube and other platforms. Give yourself an area to work out and make it a priority. This is a great way to stay active despite the weather, and it should keep you motivated during this time of year. Most workouts don’t even require weights or exercise products. You can usually use your own body weight to get the job done!
While I tend to prefer autumn and winter over the hot summer months, I am not immune to the challenges we face during the colder time of year. I have experienced SAD symptoms, and dealt with feeling unmotivated and seasonally depressed. I get it; it’s hard! But try taking the necessary steps to combat these winter blues.
Wintertime does not need to be a slow, cold, lazy time of year. You can spin it into a positive season full of goal-setting, optimism, and lots of fun! Do your best to keep the good times rolling this winter. We believe in you!
About the Author
Rachael is a University of Southern Maine graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Sociology. She remotely works full-time as a Senior Content Marketing Specialist for Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. In her leisure time, Rachael enjoys traveling with her husband, finding the next Netflix series to binge, and taking too many photos of her dogs Jax and Kai. Rachael is obsessed with chapstick, favors the Oxford comma, and is a proud Mainer. You'll likely find her exploring New England + beyond.