We had our first official Snow Day before Thanksgiving this year.  Like it or not, winter is on its way. I don’t know about you, but as soon as the last leaf falls and the crisp autumn air gives way to the biting winds of winter, I feel like hibernating.  Give me a baggy sweater and comfort foods and call me when it’s spring.  Except spring comes.  And who wants to live with a whole season of regret?

So instead of hibernating, I choose to stay active in the winter.  It takes a little more effort, for sure, to keep the motivation alive during these months.  But it’s worth it.  If I can do it, you can, too! Here are some tips to help you.

1.

Find a program to follow.

I have to admit, I’m a cold weather wimp.  It’s gets cold outside and my workouts shift inside.  Luckily, there are a ton of indoor workout options! Having a program to follow can keep you accountable when all you want to do is stuff your face with macaroni and cheese and take a nap.  It can be a local Bootcamp that meets 3-4 mornings a week, a home DVD program like Insanity, or even a customized online program like you can find on daily burn.  Whatever it is, find something that works for you and your life, and commit.  Write it down.  Tell someone you are doing it.    Activity is more likely to happen when you have a plan and aren’t flying by the seat of your pants.  Trust me, I know this from experience.

2.

Plan to be active on non-workout days.

You don’t have to do a formal workout to be active.  It’s easy to keep active as the seasons change when you build functional fitness into your day.  While you are waiting for your kids to get their shoes on (whhhhyyyy does that always take so long?) you can get a few squats in.Why not? Might as well squeeze the fitness in however you can.  In between playing with cars and reading books to your toddler, how about using something in your home (like a fireplace hearth) to get some jump ups in?

Squeezing these little bursts of fitness in is easier if you’re wearing comfy workout clothes, no? I love how there are so many options out there for workout gear that is as cute and comfortable as it is functional.  My favorite place to snag great outfits like this is Target®.  They have a great selection of affordable and cute workout clothes you can wear for working out or running around the town.  Plan to wear a comfortable workout outfit when you know you’ll want to squeeze some activity into your busy day.

3.

Enlist a workout buddy.

If someone else is counting on you, you’re much less likely to shirk your workout duties, right?  If you and your friend both belong to a gym, set times when you will meet to workout together.  If that doesn’t work, you can also have an accountability partner. Instead of meeting your buddy to workout, have a friend to check in with after you get your planned workout in.  We all need a cheerleader to text us, “GREAT JOB!!!” after we got in a sweat session.  And nobody wants to sheepishly send an excuse-ridden text explaining why we didn’t workout.  You’ll get the workout in!

Winter doesn’t have to be a time when our activity gets put on hold until spring.  Start planning now for how you’ll stay active when the season changes.  And then make it happen!

Share your tips! What do you do to stay active when the season changes?  

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Target® C9 through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Target® C9 all opinions are my own.