In autumn 2018, I was all abuzz with advice on how to keep up fitness momentum during the shorter days. It also wasn’t a problem for me last autumn, although a small operation on my hyperactive parathyroid kept me off the streets for some time. But now, reader, with what feels like interminable darkness, greyness and rain, I am in a slump.
I have always struggled more towards the end of winter than at the beginning. For a lot of people, November is a really hard month. Or January (so long!). For me, it’s February. It’s short, but for me it’s the four weeks by which winter is too long. Come March, I can tell myself that things are looking up, the days are longer, and if you’re lucky you can get some decent spring weather already. But not in February. Oh no. February is blech.
Photo by Julian Ebert on Unsplash
The weather has been especially unhelpful this year: in this part of the world, the winter has been unseasonably warm, i.e. somewhere around 10 C most of the time, and rather wet. Actually, this is quite normal February weather around here, but we’ve had it since December now. Meteorologically speaking, it has been my least favourite month of the year for two and a half months. It’s cold enough to be unpleasant but not cold enough to get any snow or these really cold, crisp, sunny winter days I love. There have been a few, but not enough. As a result, the temptation to stay on the couch with a blanket rather than get moving has been too strong on too many occasions.
So I need to know: what are your motivation strategies for the end of winter?
I’ve been pretty consistent with strength training this winter and my one jog a week. It’s been a pretty nice winter in Toronto though. Not as cold as usual and sunny this month. I get excited this time of year as the days get longer and we are closer to spring than Christmas (going backwards). I am looking forward to an extra day of running towards spring.
I haven’t tried it but have you tried one of those Lamps for energy during long dark spells? Also, obviously talk to your doctor, but perhaps daily Vitamin D supplements?