My alarm went off this morning, and it was cold and dark out. This is nothing new in Boulder in the mornings, even if it gets up to 70 midday, but the sun is coming up later and later, and all I wanted to do was hide under my blankets. It was everything I could do to get out of bed. The thought of winter coming was just too depressing. Laying there, thoughts peeped into my head about how to stay motivated with my exercise routine and just in general stay positive and in a good mood. There are actually a lot of things to look forward to over the next few months, as it gets colder, and colder… and colder.

Here are a few ideas to keep you motivated and feeling good, no matter how cold it is outside:

FALL

Watching trees change from green to all shades of yellow, orange and red is so beautiful! The air isn’t hot and sticky anymore. Instead, it’s brisk and refreshing. That makes Fall the PERFECT TIME for outdoor exercise. The temps are just right for biking, running, or hiking. Even some crazy people love this weather for kayaking and canoeing (it’s a little too chilly to me for THAT but whatever floats YOUR boat – ha!). Even getting out to a farmer’s market or pumpkin patch with the kids can be exercise and entertainment all rolled into one. If you’re looking for more grown-up entertainment, go to a winery and take a tour of the vineyard before you settle down with a bottle of chardonnay and a cheese board, take a tour of the winery or just stroll through the vines. Do anything and everything you can to soak up the sunshine and the fresh air before winter sets in.

Fall is also a great time to test out those root veggie recipes you read about during the summer. Farmers’ markets are coming to the end of their seasons, with fresh produce plants fading with each chilly night, but you still have time to supplement your meals with green veggies if the recipes don’t turn out as you intended.

WINTER

The cool air of Fall gets me excited for the first snowfall of the season, which can come as early as September here in Boulder.

Cold and snow is no excuse for hiding inside. There is so much to do outside!
@hayleyhobson (Click to Tweet!)

I moved to Boulder from LA. I didn’t waste a minute thinking about how much I might hate winter (I’d be dumb to hate winter and move to Colorado!). Instead, I learned how to snowboard and I loved it. I drove up to Breckenridge every weekend to go snowboarding! It was so much fun and it got me through the first several winters. Another fun thing I discovered about winter in Colorado is how many people have heated pools and will swim all year round! It is SOOOO pretty to swim around in a warm pool with snowflakes falling all around you. And there are a ton of cold weather outdoor activities.There’s ice skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or just going for a long walk in the snow can be pretty challenging! You can build snowmen with your kids.

I’m not much of a tea drinker during the summer, but when it gets cold, that’s when I love to dive into my tea collection, or find new concoctions to try. It’s like I have a whole different palette when it gets cold out.

If you’re a fashionista, you have a whole different wardrobe to dive into. For me, digging out my winter clothes is almost like going shopping – I get to wear all the stuff I’ve had packed away all spring and summer. And these days the styles are SO CUTE! There’s every cut of jeans imaginable, warm, fuzzy sweaters that aren’t all big and bulky, and there are so many styles of boots.

“IT’S TOO COLD!!”

Maybe you know that you are not cut out for cold weather. Don’t sit around and complain about it – plan a winter vacation to go somewhere warm so you have something to look forward to, to get you through the cold months.

And don’t make ‘it’s cold out’ an excuse for not exercising – there is plenty you can do in the comfort and warmth of your home to keep active and you don’t even need equipment to do most of it.

You know you don’t need to leave the house to do yoga. How about doing some stretches? Play hide and go seek with your kids, crank up the sound system and dance!

If you really suffer from seasonal dysmorphic disorder, invest in some full-spectrum light bulbs for your house. They can be pricey, but they seem to really help people during the months when there’s less sunlight and isn’t a happy state of mind worth it? Your indoor plants will love it too!

Changing seasons is really rough for some. Take the time while it’s still nice out get out into the crystal clear sunshine and soak it up while you can.

I’ve just given you some tips for enjoying the weather, no matter how cold it is. How do you keep yourself active through the cold months?

XO Hayley

Hayley Hobson is an author, speaker, business coach, yogi, Pilates instructor, and holistic nutritional expert based in Boulder, CO. Her unique and intelligent style promotes strengthening while softening—empowering her clients to heal not only their physical bodies but their hearts and minds as well. To learn more about her nutritional courses, events, and custom programs, visit hayleyhobson.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.