Workout despite cold
“How about another 250 steps?” – “Nearly there! Just 135 steps to hit your hourly goal!”-”Hi Daniela, how about a little walk?“
The little motivator on your wrist reminds you it’s there by vibrating at least once every hour. So I don’t forget in my sedentary life that movement is good for you. Okay, I’ll get my act together and go and make a cup of tea. That's what my Fitbit is telling me to do, after all. Hot tea doesn't sound such a bad idea, given how cold it is out there.
But the next glance at my fitness tracker shows that even that trip to make a second cup of tea wasn’t quite enough. The number of calories I have burned up doesn't really knock me off my feet. Looks like there’s no way out of that workout today. Maybe I should go for a walk? It’s below freezing out there! Workout in the cold. Might strengthen the immune system.
At least the sun is shining. That's one good thing! We only notice how crucial daylight is for our well-being and our biological rhythm when we get the winter blues. Fresh air, daylight, and movement really do matter. Overcome your weaker self and get out there jogging - at least three kilometres.
The moment I’m outside, I regret it immediately. It's cold, slippery and damp. After a couple of minutes, my face feels like ice crystals are growing on it. I've got my kit on though, so I’ll go to the gym. But then I won’t get any of the daylight I need to get me out of my depression.
What if I were to say that’s not the case? That I do my stuff in a gym that is not lit by gloomy electric light, but flooded with daylight and rays of sunshine? That the room temperature is comfortable and I am greeted by a breath of fresh air?
How does that work? Just look up: skylights that not only let in the glorious sun and give you three times more light yield than windows in the wall, but also have a gap wide open to flood the studio with fresh air.
So get up and on that treadmill, and make your vibrating Fitbit happy for once.
