Between the cold weather and the reduced periods of sunshine, motivation can sometimes fail in winter. However, exercise is your best weapon in the fight against seasonal depression. Try out new activities and create a motivating athletics programme for the winter with indoor, outdoor or home activities with or without the accompaniment of a virtual coach.

Set up a fitness programme to stay motivated in winter

To stay motivated in winter, a well-detailed exercise schedule is of particular importance. In order to make exercise a routine rather than a constraint, draw up your calendar in advance with a motivating training schedule. This will make it harder to find excuses to space out your training sessions, and will fit into your schedule just as naturally as all your family or professional activities.

Having precise objectives also helps to keep you motivated. Here are a few ideas of goals that can help you to maintain a sustained training rhythm throughout the winter:

• To have a firm and toned figure in summer without having to play catch up at the last minute.
• To be able to enjoy festive meals at the end of the year without feeling guilty.
• Maintaining a balanced weight
• Fight against winter depression thanks to the anti-stress effects of sports and athletics
• Etc.

Once the factors that really push you to do physical activity are well established, you’ll have more fun with each session. Think about equipping yourself with monitoring tools to see your progress as you train: who would want to see their progress come to a halt during the winter?

Winter: an opportunity to try out new sports

Winter is also an opportunity to try out new sporting activities. Vary the enjoyment and boost your motivation by practising a winter sport. There is also no shortage of ideas to diversify your training:

• Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or freestyle skiing if you like big thrills
• Snowboarding
• Snowkiting
• Speed riding
• Snowshoeing
• Mountaineering
• Ice skating
• Luge
• Airboarding
• Etc.

After introducing yourself to these seasonal practices, winter will no longer be a hindrance for you – on the contrary, you’ll look forward to it so that you can once again enjoy all these new experiences.

Opt for indoor sports during the winter season

To continue training despite the cold, why not take advantage of the winter to do indoor sports. Whether you prefer to train at the gym or in the comfort of your own home, many activities can be carried out in the shelter and warmth of the indoors. If you are accompanied by a coach, you will never run out of exercise ideas to keep you progressing and having fun at the same time.

Practising sport indoors

Getting a gym membership is a good way to train in winter:

• The gyms have a wide range of equipment for performing all kinds of activities: cardio, weight training, group sports, etc.
• With new training partners to support and accompany you, you’ll enjoy a warm and friendly atmosphere.
• If you choose to register for a class, a coach can help you to progress and achieve movements adapted to your level and your objectives.

Doing physical activity at home

It’s also possible to train at home with or without equipment:

• By exercising at home, you don’t need to go anywhere, you’ll save a lot of time and enjoy every moment of your workouts.
• By training at home, you’ll save money since there are no monthly fees or transport costs.
• You are not subject to any constraints: day or night, your home fitness space is available to you.
• With a shower and all the facilities at your disposal, you can train and change in the comfort of your own home.

Whatever your choice, opt for iFit® coaching and gain access to thousands of sessions in a variety of disciplines. Create your own personal training schedule according to your goals and follow video lessons from coaches around the world. iFit® solutions can accompany you everywhere:

• On your phone with a dedicated app compatible with our connected wristbands, for yoga or fitness sessions at home with a personalised follow-up or for an outdoor practice.
• On your NordicTrack fitness equipment, via the Bluetooth app, able to control your device during sessions to make them more immersive than ever.

Check out our Health & Fitness page for more advice.