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The prospect of heading outside for your regular exercise gets less and less appealing as the temperatures continue to drop. That said, we can’t just curl up under a blanket and wait for spring to roll around to get back into a regular exercise routine. If you’re not keen on going outside for exercise, now is the time to take your exercise indoors. Below, we share some tips for transitioning from an outdoor exercise routine to an indoors routine.

Taking Your Exercise Indoors

Here’s a look at some tips that may make it easier to transition to an indoor exercise routine now that the temperatures have fallen.

  1. Stay Entertained – The nice thing about an outdoor workout is that you’re constantly entertained by the scenery, which can be quite beautiful here in Minnesota. Many people miss this natural beauty and get pretty bored when they are working out on a stationary exercise machine. Make it easier to stay entertained by watching some television, reading a book or listening to music while you exercise so that you don’t get bored with an indoor workout.
  2. Pay For Gym Access – Indoor gyms offer a lot of equipment that the average individual doesn’t normally have access to, so it’s easier to find a workout plan that’s right for you if you have gym access. While it’s true that some gym memberships are underutilized, many people are more apt to commit to a winter workout routine if they are paying for gym access. Consider joining a gym for a couple months until the weather warms up.
  3. Start Swimming – While the lakes in Minnesota will soon be frozen over, you can still swim during the winter by heading to a local community pool. Many community pools have designated hours for lap swim or open swim, so figure out what times work best for you and start swimming a couple times a week. Swimming is also a great way to improve your joint health thanks to water’s natural resistance.
  4. Create A Dedicated Space – If you’d rather work out from the comfort of your home when you have the time, dedicate a certain area as your workout space. Whether that’s the basement or a spare bedroom, get all your workout equipment in that area so that your space is always ready when you have the time. If you leave the area so that it’s ready for your next workout, it will be easier to keep exercising in the future.
  5. Grab A Buddy – Just because you’re stuck inside doesn’t mean that you need to work out alone. You can head over to a friend’s house, invite them over for a workout or meet at the gym at a given time each week. Having a buddy to work out with will help to keep you committed to exercise.
  6. Set Small Attainable Goals – It can be very hard to stick to your indoor workout as the winter continues, but that’s easier to do if you set some small attainable goals. You’ll also want to have some long-term goals, but setting some small goals at the outset can help set you up for success. Strive to do two 45-minute workouts each week, and build on your success so that you’re always pushing yourself to take on a greater challenge. Soon you may even find that you’re looking forward to exercising because you’re close to hitting your goals. Set some attainable goals and then raise the bar a little each week.

Of course, if you want help developing an indoor workout routine, or you want help recovering from a specific injury, connect with the team at OrthoRehab Specialists. We’ll be more than happy to help you develop an indoor workout routine that helps you achieve your personal goals. For more information, or for answers to any questions you may have about anything fitness or injury related, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.

Dr. Andy Masis, PT
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