| Mid-Winter (Azure) Blues |
Mid-Winter (Azure) BluesFebruary 8, 2012 Here we are, almost six weeks in to the New Year. Now is the time our New Year’s Resolutions begin to be challenged. Have you stuck with your resolution? If so, GREAT!! Keep going, research tells us that in order for a new behavior to become a habit you have to stick with it for 20+ weeks. Give yourself a pat on the back if you have followed through on your resolutions thus far, but be aware that you will be met with challenges in the weeks and months ahead of you. Do not give up but, instead, take on each new day with a renewed sense of energy and intensity. It is natural for a person to fall into a seasonal routine where outdoor activities are relegated to spring, summer and early fall, and when the weather turns, we limit our choices of activity to those available indoors. However, with the Michigan weather unseasonably temperate, recognize the potential for taking those indoor workouts ‘out of doors’ and enjoying a breath of fresh air! It might take a shift in mindset to recognize that there is no difference between a 40 degree day in May and a 40 degree day in February. If running or walking outside is your habit in the spring and summer months, there is no reason that it can’t be enjoyed in the winter as well. Walking or running on the uneven terrain of a wooded trail will challenge not only your senses, but also the musculoskeletal system in a way that the treadmill and elliptical cannot. I encourage you to include one workout a week that allows you to enjoy the sights, sounds and wonder of nature. Try some of these winter outdoor activities that may mimic your summer outdoor activities: |