Staying motivated through the darker months!

The clocks have gone back, and as we lose daylight, we often lose our motivation to stay active too. And while hibernation seems appealing, it can really impact your mental and physical health by not doing enough exercise.

For some, getting outdoors to exercise on darker days can be really difficult for a multitude of reasons or you may just prefer the environment and options provided by a gym! It may be easier to get up knowing you’re going to a session at a gym rather than going out for a run in the dark, cold and rainy English weather.

Another tip is to work out with other people! At Patch, we do small-group personal training sessions, which means there’s a great community of members who you will be training with each session! This is a huge motivator for our members because everyone is pushing themselves and it makes the atmosphere very inspiring to always do your best!

Make sure you have a solid sleep routine nailed down! Without the sun in the morning, it can make waking up really hard, because it disturbs our circadian rhythm. Make sure you are setting yourself up for a good night’s sleep! Read our tips on how to prepare yourself for a great sleep routine. Trying to get into a routine of going to sleep and getting up and the same time will help you to keep your body clock consistent.

Making sure you have a good daily routine, or good weekly workout routine can help you stay consistent with working out. If you book in 3 sessions a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you will be prepared & committed to be working out those days, and be able to hold yourself more accountable to turning up!

In essence, working harder and smarter may help and improve your fitness this winter! Do the things that work for you to keep yourself accountable, motivated & active! It is most important to be doing things that make you feel amazing this winter, and exercise is one of the best mood boosters!