4 Simple Ways I Stay Energised And Moving this Winter

Most people I know despise the slightest thought of seasonal changes, and I have never truly understood why. Especially when it comes to winter.

Is it because colder weather and shorter days is often associated with lethargy and social withdrawal?

Or is it simply because no matter how hard you try, your hands and feet will never feel warm enough; that the dry winter air works overtime to turn your skin into sandpaper and leave you with a snotty nose?

Whatever the reason, it baffles me that people dislike the colder months and find it so much harder to keep moving, because I never seem to have this problem.

In fact, winter is my love language.

Under the right conditions — of course — winter offers a space to feel warm and cozy, wraps itself in an inviting charm, and brings a refreshing change after months of running in relentless heat and enduring sticky, sweat-soaked days.

And, while the quiet calm might try to lull me into slowing down, stay in bed for longer and skip my running workouts, the breezy weather has the opposite effect on me.

It fires me up, sharpens my focus and pushes me to work harder than ever, as if the cold itself fuels my determination to move, create, and progress.

I’ll be honest; dragging myself out of bed in the early hours of a cold winter morning to get a workout in, isn’t any easier for me than it is for anyone else braving the freezing northern climates this time of year. But strangely enough, I tend to thrive in it.

Maybe it’s the the challenge of finding movement in a season built for stillness. Even in places like Finland and Sweden, where the winter sun barely scrapes the horizon, people keep going, bundling up for daily life as if the cold is just another part of the scenery.

Over the past week, the cold winter mornings have been coming in hot (antiphrasis intended) in Cyprus too with major weather pattern changes, including heavy rain, heavy snow, and blizzard expected to hit a large part of Europe.

Seasonal changes seem to have a flair for drama, doesn’t it?

Just as you think you’re settling into a season, it throws in an encore of downpours and (and in this case) icy gusts, daring you to either adapt or retreat.

So yesterday, it was time for me to conform to the sudden, unwelcoming weather that hit the island.

I threw on my rain jacket and prepared for my run after work. The sun had already disappeared, leaving the streets dark and the air heavy with damp misery, and as I revelled in the frosty air on my skin, it suddenly occurred to me that; —

Not everyone finds it as joyous as me to run in this miserable weather. In fact, most people hate it. But in a quest to encourage fellow readers – who happens to enjoy running as much as I do – continue the momentum this winter, I’ve gathered some thoughts I think might help.

1. Embracing stillness

I still get up at 5 a.m. most mornings during winter.

Actually, it’s easier for me to stay consistent with it, because the world is so much quieter then. The stillness allows me to think more clearly, and my creative imagination begins to reshape itself once again.

The alone time is remarkable. I could swear that even my first cup of coffee tastes better during the colder months.

There’s a certain beauty that comes with stillness. It creates room for creativity and innovation, invites our thoughts to flow freely, and gives us space to breathe.

By embracing the stillness, instead of trying to run away from it (pun intended), you might find it easier to step outside, feel the freshness on your skin, and reconnect with yourself.

2. See it as an opportunity to start new

Just as we need to recover from running a marathon before starting a new training block, nature teaches us that winter is a season of rest. Flowers wilt, tree leaves lose their colour, and plants wither — all preparing to bloom again when the sun returns. In the same way, we need time to rest and recuperate.

That doesn’t mean we should use the dying season as a convenient excuse to let all our hard work, dedication and commitment grind to a halt

For me, winter is a time to re-strategise, re-align my thinking, and reconsider my goals and desires. Slowly, I begin to prepare for the upcoming warm weather — almost like leaning into the idea of “summer bodies are made in winter.”

3. Rest more, Run better

Winter is often associated with lethargy and gloom, even though studies show this is largely a myth. Why not use the colder months as an opportunity to hibernate — aka, catch up on sleep?

By prioritising rest, we allow our bodies to rejuvenate, which in turn helps us perform better when we head out for a run in the brisk air. In other words; work hard so you can play hard.

Tell me you feel inviforated after a winter run without actually saying it. Now, imagine finding yourself halfway through your morning session and getting caught in a downpour — it’s equal parts exhilarating and memorable.

4. Small wins are still wins

I get it. And I won’t pretend I don’t.

Popcorn, pizza, warm blankets and Netflix sounds much more appealing than heading out the door in winter. It’s the choice we’re more likely to make most weekends.

But during these setbacks, I’ve found that breaking unattended tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, without room for negotiation, can work wonders.

For example; before I let my binge-watching episodes completely consume my Sunday, I give myself a short recess; a mere 10-minute walk outside. “Just to see where it takes me”, I tell myself.

Before I know it, the walk gets boring, and I find myself completing the workout session already marked on my calendar.

More often than not, the hardest part is simply starting. We tend to make tasks seem bigger in our heads than they actually are, but when you break task up in smaller chunks, it’s easier for your brain to process, and you’re far more likely to follow through before procrastination fully takes over.

To me, that’s a win. And small wins are still wins.

To be honest, coming from a country where Christmas holidays mean summer, packed with family gatherings, parties, and endless social invitations, the cold northern climates feel like a refreshing and welcome change for me.

Winter offers a unique opportunity to slow me down, to reflect on my year, and appreciate the moments it has brought into my life. It’s a season that invites calmness and introspection — a chance to reset and prepare to kick off the new year with a sense of renewal.

While summer brings its own kind of high, there’s something distinctly special about the quiet energy of winter. It allows for inward thinking and to connect with ourselves in ways that the busyness of warmer seasons often doesn’t permit.

So, as the colder months settle in, consider leaning into the stillness and the space it creates. To recharge, rethink, and set the tone for the year ahead. Sometimes, the magic of winter lies not in what we do, but in the space it gives us to simply be.