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!
