Exercising doesn't need to be a stressful checkbox on your to-do list. It can be a fun break in the day or an opportunity to shake up your daily routine. Below are some fun ideas to help get us moving this month!
January Restart
January is an exciting time! We get an opportunity to press restart on many of our old habits and start fresh. One widely popular January ritual is to begin exercising again. Even though the temperatures are cold and curling into a ball seems easier, motivation is calling our names! We just need to know where to find it.
1. Have a Dance Party
Get the whole family involved! Learn a challenging TikTok dance or hip hop routine on Youtube. Share your final routine on social media!
2. Clean Your Way to Fitness
Cleaning is a necessary part of our day, but it doesn't have to be a drag. If you're cleaning anyway, make it your workout, too! Jog up and down those stairs, do lunges while dusting from place to place, engage your core while mopping and running the vacuum. Moving with intention can have a big impact on fitness.
3. Play with a Dog
Can anything be more motivating than a dog in the snow? When I take my dogs in the backyard or to the dog park, I challenge myself to run with them wherever they go. Not only are they so excited that you're running with them, but it burns too. Their energy is contagious - use it!
4. Go for a Hike
There are truly so many great parks and hiking trails in the city of Pittsburgh. Winter hikes are extra special because everything is just a bit quieter and calmer in the dead of winter. My favorite park in the city is Riverview Park. The Observatory is beautiful, there is a dog park and so many trails. Don't forget to bring a dog with you ;).
5. Make it a challenge
Is anyone else besides me obsessed with the step tracker on your phone? If so, why not have a step contest with friends, family, or just yourself. Try to take more steps each day, or set a number for yourself to reach.
6. Go Sled Riding
Get some friends or family to join in! Sledding down a steep(ish) hill is exhilarating, but climbing back up is a feat. My quads burn after just a few rides, but the joy of going back down again helps to make an actually really strenuous activity seem fun!