How to keep motivated in the winter!

How to keep motivated in the winter!

Is it just me or have the mornings this week suddenly felt a lot darker? The alarm goes off and my instant thought is did I set it wrong, (it’s so dark it feels like the middle of the night). But no such luck; It’s 6 AM and that ‘how to keep motivated in the winter’ battle has begun. Do I stay snuggled in bed and admit defeat to the guilt that will most likely follow me around all day, or, do I kick in the auto pilot, get up and get that yoga done. I mean all we’ve gotta do is get washed and move our bodies about a bit (we know we will feel better for it), but man that bathroom feels a lot further away than usual and wow, this bed has never felt so cosy!

I’ve been on the cusp of this decision many a time in my life, and I admit, many a time I have fallen prey to the wonderful idea of staying in bed, only to feel pretty shoddy for the rest of the day. TIP here: if you do decide to stay in bed enjoy it, don’t let guilt ruin the day, remind yourself you needed that time and tomorrow you will make up for it. With the end of summer and beginning of those long nights I go through the same struggle, how to keep motivated on a cold morning. So last year I decided enough was enough, there must be a way of making this ordeal more appealing and here is what I found.

BE REALISTIC

Whether you have a routine in the summer that you struggle to apply in winter or you have no routine and are reading this for inspiration, remember it’s cold, it’s dark and most likely (oh how I love the british weather), it’s raining. So choose something that you can consistently do come rain or shine. Or at least if you are going outside have a back up plan… Using the whether as an excuse is just another way of your bed tricking you into staying put.

TEN MINUTES IS FINE

Don’t put too much pressure on your self about what it is you do to keep motivated in the winter (yoga, running, gym, walking) or for how long. It’s just about getting you joints moving and your brain focused.

For me, when ever there is how to keep motivated question, yoga has always got to be on the list. This yoga sequence is a great example of how 10 minutes can do the job perfectly. It brings warmth to the body, releases tension built up from sleep and is accessible to anyone, whether you’ve done yoga before or not.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ppednBppnQ

BE PREPARED

Get everything you need ready the night before. If your going to the gym, get your gym bag ready and by the door. If your doing exercise at home, get your mat out and what ever else you need. The more prepared you are the harder it will be for you to give in, a) you will feel stupid for having everything out and ready but not even using it, b) It will save you time in the morning, meaning no faffing. Also work out the exact time you need to get up to fit everything in and then add another 10 minutes on top; it’s always a good idea to give yourself more time than you need, reducing the need for rushing around meaning you can keep those stress levels in check. I highly recommend the Lumie alarm clocks, my new best friend. I’ve had mine just a week now and already I’m reaping the effects. The Lumie’s slow sunrise gently coaxes your mind to life, so those days of jolting awake to the sudden sound of your alarm are long gone.

DONT GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA/ CHECK EMAILS ETC.

We all know this one! It’s so easy to do but can be a fatal mistake. If you allow yourself that sneaky peak before you know it 20 minutes will have gone by and your whole morning is out of wack. Instead, when your alarm goes off rub your eyes, take a deep breath in, give your legs a little shake and get up before your brain has chance to kick in and tell you otherwise.

REWARD YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT BREAKFAST

So as Ayurveda does, lets apply the principle of opposites, we are cold so we need to eat something that’s warm. I know, not a ground breaking phenomenon, but you would be surprised how many people continue with the same cold milk and cereal or fresh fruit salads, great in the summer to cool us down but when it comes to how to keep motivated when it’s cold? Doesn’t really hold that same appeal does it. Not only do we need to think warm temperature but also warm in taste…. Things like cinnamon, cardamon and ginger are perfect examples of this. For me stewed fruit is always a winner. Full of apples and blueberries to wake up the mind along with cinnamon and ginger to get the digestive system warmed and working. I make a big batch at the beginning of the week along with a separate bowl of soaked chia seeds or bircher muesli and then it’s all ready to go each morning. Just put a helping of the chia seeds or bircher muesli in bowl, top with the stewed fruit, microwave for 2 minutes and you have a delicious warming bowl of goodness just waiting to be devoured. See my favourite morning recipe here.

So here’s a summary of top tips on how to keep motivated in the winter.

1. Be realistic and be prepared for bad whether
2. Remember anything is better than nothing, even if it’s just 10 minutes
3. Get everything prepared night before: breakfast/ clothes for exercise / yoga mat laid out if needed (remember check out those lumie alarm clocks if you really want to be on top of your game). 
4. Don’t spend time in bed hitting snooze or looking on social media, alarm goes off take a deep full breath, rub your eyes and get up.
5. Reward yourself with a warming, healthy, delicious breakfast.

And there you have it. No miracle cure and yes effort is still required, however with a little bit of that and a little bit of this, it shouldn’t be quite as painful a process.

Nathalie, VYM x

Like what you read? Have any techniques on how to keep motivated that work for you? We’d love to here from you; share below.