5 Zero or Low-Cost Ways to Keep Your Family Exercising in the Cold Winter Months

The cold winter months often serve as an excuse for many people to avoid exercising. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is especially important in the winter, as it's a time when heavy meals and treats are often consumed. Even with gyms closed and families stuck indoors, there are several ways for you and your family to continue getting exercise at little to no cost to you. Here are a few ideas to get you started that can be fun for the entire family.

Utilize YouTube Workout Videos

First, there are hundreds of thousands of free online workout videos on YouTube available to you and your family. Whether it be workouts dedicated to strengthening your arms or legs, sculpting your stomach or thighs, or fast-paced and intense full-body workouts, there are many out there to choose from. Whether you're looking for a ten-minute full-body workout or a five-minute arm workout to do before heading out the door, check out different fitness instructors who create videos specially designed for mothers, kids, and/or families to try together.

Did you know that 90 seconds is the average response time for a text message? Instead of sitting on your phone, aimlessly scrolling through social media, and wasting time away, consider finding a workout video on your cell phone, laptop, or TV and move your body!

Try Yoga and Meditation

While living in homes surrounded by grass lawns is preferred by 90% of Americans, the snow has unfortunately blanketed the lawns of many throughout states that get cold and dreary in the winter months. This definitely affects you and your family's ability to get outside and relieve any stress you may be feeling. An alternative stress-relieving activity you and your family can try is yoga. Similar to finding free workout videos, you can also find beginner's yoga and meditation videos online either through an instructor's website or YouTube at no cost to you.

Yoga is beneficial both physically and mentally. While stretching your body and moving muscles that may be stiff due to lack of use and exercise in the winter, you will also feel balanced, strong, and level-headed. Set up some squishy mats on your living room floor, put on some comfortable clothes, and get your family together to try a yoga video or two.

Hike in Trails or at a Local Park

While exercising indoors may seem better because it allows you to stay in the comfort of your home and in a warmer temperature, being outside in the winter is beneficial, too. Getting fresh air is important for adults and kids alike. Bundle up your family members and go for a hike in trails behind your house or at a local park. A warm winter coat, mittens, a hat, winter boots, and additional layers of clothing will be helpful to combat the cold weather. Clear your heads and move your bodies by giving this zero-cost option a chance.

Go Sledding

Another way to exercise outside in the cold winter months is by going sledding. Perhaps your kids' elementary school or a local park has a sled-worthy hill. This is a fun activity for people of all ages, and kids especially love getting sent down a huge hill, screaming and laughing as they're spun around and zooming at full-speed to the bottom. While being sent down the hill is the easy part, walking back up the hill requires quite a bit of exercise, especially if you're enjoying this activity for an hour or more. Even as your legs burn while making your way up the hill, everyone will have a blast. Plus, you can all look forward to enjoying a warm drink once you're back in the comfort of your home.

Rent or Borrow a Snowmobile

In North America, the snowmobile industry generates over 100,000 full-time jobs. Why is this? People of all ages love zooming through fields and trails on snowmobiles, whether they're rented or bought by dealers across the country. If you live in an area with a great amount of snow, consider renting a snowmobile for a day or a weekend or borrowing one from a friend. Take your kids on rides in a safe place near your home. As family members take turns going on rides, the rest can walk around the area you've chosen to utilize the snowmobile. This allows everyone in your family to get fresh air, move their bodies, and have fun in the snow.

While renting a snowmobile would cost money, utilizing YouTube videos and going on walks and sledding expeditions can cost nothing. Whether you want to stay inside or venture to the great snowy outdoors to get some exercise in for the entire family, there are plenty of little to no cost options available to you. Think creatively, and consider what your family would benefit from and enjoy most. Maintaining proper health throughout the cold winter months is important, so get your family moving today!