Winter can be a tough season when you are trying to stay active. It’s cold outside, and the reduced daylight hours limit the time you can spend outdoors even further. It may also be icy, which can make exercising outdoors dangerous. Don’t let the challenges of winter interfere with your health goals. With a little creativity you can stay active, and find new things to do with your family during the cold winter months.
1. Play in the Snow
If you live in an area that gets snow, take advantage of it. Bundle up and head outside for some family fun. You can make a snowman, have a snowball fight, or even just make snow angels. You can also go sled riding, or even use colored water in spray bottles to make art in the snow. Just head outside and enjoy the beauty of nature.
2. Enjoy Winter Sports
If you prefer a more formal atmosphere, then give winter sports a try. Hit the slopes for some downhill skiing, cross country skiing, or snowboarding. You can also head to the ice rink for some ice skating practice. Join a hockey league and enjoy the games and practices. Hit the trails for some snowshoe hikes. There are plenty of winter sports options to choose from.
3. Have a Dance Party
Who says you have to stick to structured activities to burn calories?? Crank up your favorite tunes and have an impromptu dance party in your living room. Moderate dancing can burn over 443 calories per hour. Bust a move, and burn some extra calories while you’re at it!
4. Have a Pillow Fight
Remember the good times you had as a child pelting your friends with pillows at a sleepover? Who says you can’t have the same type of fun as an adult? Grab some pillows and laugh as you try to take each other down.
5. Create Family Challenges
Find creative ways for your family to compete with each other. If your family members all have fitness trackers, compete to see who can get the most steps in a week. Set it up so that the weekly step winner gets to choose the activity for a weekly family night.
You can also set goals of going up and down the stairs in your home a certain number of times each day. Get your heart rate up by racing to see who can put away laundry the fastest. No matter what you choose, you will benefit from the physical activity while creating fun family memories.
Create Fun Winter Memories
Winter may be a time when many people want to hibernate, but it doesn’t mean that you have to stop being active. Get creative, and find new ways to get active while creating fun memories with your loved ones. Use our tips to break out of your winter rut and try something new, or brainstorm your own list of winter activities. Regardless of what you choose, you will cherish the time together as well as the memories created.
