As I walk along the road, I focus on the interesting ice patterns in the nearby creek.
Some ice is transparent and I can see water moving underneath the thin layer.
Other ice is translucent and the only water I see bubbles out of openings in the ice.
There is also ice that is completely opaque with lacey edges perched above the water.
I focus on the ice to take my mind off the cold. I generally exercise outside even when it’s cold.
Money for a gym membership has never really been in my budget and I don’t particularly want to take the time to drive somewhere to exercise.
Plus, I just like being outdoors.
Some days I have to convince myself to go exercise, but I always feel better when I’m done so I remind myself of that when making my decision.
I know that exercising helps my mental health along with my physical health, but I didn’t realize that being outside has additional benefits.
One benefit is getting Vitamin D, which works to prevent many diseases as well as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD can cause depression-like symptoms due to lack of sunlight particularly in the winter. Going outside even on cold, cloudy days can lessen these symptoms.
We’ve had a lot of cloudy gray days lately and I’ve noticed that my daily outdoor exercise does help me feel less discouraged by the lack of sunshine.
Spending time outdoors can also boost your mood as you focus on the beauty around you.
Besides admiring the ice, I like to study the trees.
Without the leaves, you can see bird and squirrel nests in the branches. I also like looking at the different silhouettes; each type of tree has a different shape and all the little branches create interesting patterns.
When we have snow, I find the glistening white tree branches beautiful and I think the big rocks in the creek look like they are wearing hats.
Being in natural settings helps us increase our focus and our creativity.
I do notice that I frequently get good ideas while I’m outside on my walks, runs, or bike rides.
I also have more energy after I finish which helps me to be more motivated and to get work done.
Additionally, we burn more calories when we’re in the cold because our bodies use more energy to stay warm. I don’t know that I’ve noticed this benefit, but burning a few more calories never hurts.
While regularly exercising in the cold may not be your thing, you could try adding some time outdoors into your days or pick the warmer days to exercise outside.
On colder days, I opt to walk instead of run since adding extra layers is easier when I walk. I find the cold invigorating when I’ve dressed appropriately.
When you layer, start with a thin base layer that wicks away moisture. You can still get sweaty even when it’s cold and that sweat can make you feel colder.
Cotton doesn’t wick moisture away very effectively so it is not a good a base layer for the cold. The middle layer is your insulation. Try a sweater, fleece, or a puffy coat.
The outer layer should protect you from wind and rain or snow. It doesn’t have to be heavy. You can always add more layers if it’s extra cold and you can take off layers if you get too warm as you get moving.
Don’t forget layers for your legs too especially on frigid days. Warm socks can help your feet stay warm as well as shoes with thicker soles which provide more protection between your feet and the cold ground.
Keeping the air inside your layers also helps you stay warmer so tuck your sleeves into your gloves or mittens and wear long socks. I like to wear a scarf to keep my neck and lower face protected. A hat can trap the heat from your head.
Whatever you do, I encourage you to get outside to boost your mood and to enjoy the other benefits as you wait for spring to arrive.
