• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • The Wellesley (COVID) 100
      The Wellesley (COVID) 100
    • In memory of Professor Rebecca Summerhays
      In memory of Professor Rebecca Summerhays
    • Trans flag controversy: College power washes staircase after trans flag is painted over Harry Potter spray paint
      Trans flag controversy: College power washes staircase after trans flag is painted over Harry Potter spray paint
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • The News in Conversation: Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration
      The News in Conversation: Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration
    • Editorial Board calls for keeping up trans flag murals
      Editorial Board calls for keeping up trans flag murals
    • No, Elon Musk’s Twitter will not restore free speech
      No, Elon Musk’s Twitter will not restore free speech
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • Be/longing Centers Connection and Care
      Be/longing Centers Connection and Care
    • No image
      Birds Falling Upwards: Wellesley College Theater’s The Moors is a Must-See
    • No image
      Sometimes you just need to read a YA “Groundhog Day” to feel something
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Health and Wellness
    • February Student Athlete of the Month
      February Student Athlete of the Month
    • Athletics Update
      Athletics Update
    • Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health
      Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Wellesley News Leadership Changes Completely Peacefully Without Any Suspicious Disappearances At All
      Wellesley News Leadership Changes Completely Peacefully Without Any Suspicious Disappearances At All
    • Solve Your Connection Problems With Wellesley Insecure
      Solve Your Connection Problems With Wellesley Insecure
    • Mayhem strikes Wellesley as paper towels removed from campus
      Mayhem strikes Wellesley as paper towels removed from campus
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Liz Sugg ’23 Sports and WellnessOctober 12, 2020

Maintaining wellness as the cold sets in

As the temperatures drop, a walk around the lake or a run through the Ville might not seem as enjoyable as staying inside. While slipping away into your comfy, warm bed to watch Netflix might seem like the only option as the weather gets colder, it is not! Who says the grind has to stop when outdoor activities do? Below, you will find several strategies for staying active, healthy, in-shape and positive during the winter months. You might even reach some of those wellness goals that you had started during quarantine, but never quite finished.

Start With Setting Goals

As Wellesley students, we know all too well that not meeting goals can be extremely disheartening, making it easy for us to refrain from setting goals in the first place. Let’s challenge ourselves this winter and carve out a list of goals that get us to the peak wellness we have been thinking about but never gotten around to working on. During quarantine, I kept a journal with three simple daily entries:  my current mood, my wellness objectives for the day (including a workout plan, meal plan and relaxation plan) and any longer term goals I wanted to achieve. Journaling is not the best method for everyone, and I certainly missed some days if my schedule got too busy, but there is a strategy out there best fit for you. The biggest step is starting a routine. Begin with short term goals and take it day by day. You got this!

The Beauty of a Yoga Mat

If I had gone all of quarantine without a yoga mat, I do not think I would have been able to make the jump back into the school year. Not only can doing stretches on it help to destress and unwind, but it is also a great surface for getting a really good workout. Take advantage of being in a single with a little extra floor space than you might not have had in previous years. No one is watching, so go for those tough workouts that make you sweat more than you would like to admit. When it comes to finding workout routines, Youtube, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest are great resources for finding at-home workouts that really get your heart pumping and your muscles burning. If you do not have access to a yoga mat, try using a towel or the floor itself. There are many workout routines that require no equipment at all.

Fuel Your Body

Though the food we eat is not typically as dependent on the time of year, take this as a friendly reminder to keep in mind what you consume when thinking about your wellness. The selection in our dining halls is not quite the same as last year, but there are still plenty of healthy options to choose from. Do not be afraid to mix and match different dishes in the dining halls. Get creative and make the most of what the dining halls have to offer. If you have access to a local grocery store, then think about some items that you could add to the Wellesley meals. Although the restrictions on kitchen use are limiting, the microwaves can help fix up a meal better than you think!

80 Percent Good, 20 Percent Bad Mindset

Keep in mind that it is unreasonable to be perfect all the time. We are still humans who love to chow down on some buttery popcorn or ice cream while watching movies after a day of lounging around. Incorporate that into your lifestyle as well, just in moderation. Thinking about it in terms of doing 80 percent good or healthy activities and 20 percent bad or unhealthy activities during your day can put into perspective the need for balance in life. Do not get down on yourself after skipping a workout or eating a whole bag of Oreos, and instead try to make up for it by doing a harder exercise or eating an apple for dessert the following day. Any progress is an achievement, and one slip up is not a set back. Good luck with setting and pursuing your wellness goals this winter!

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleStaying safe and warm this winter
Next articleA new kind of PE

You may also like

February Student Athlete of the Month

Athletics Update

Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2022 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top