How to Stay Motivated When It’s Cold and Dark Outside

Written by Luca Samara

Luca is part of the management team at Workout Ashton, he teaches the occasional class and also operates Superhuman Sports.

When winter hits Bristol and the mornings feel darker than ever, finding motivation to train can be tough. But this is exactly when staying consistent makes the biggest difference - and at Workout Ashton, we’ve got everything you need to keep moving through the colder months.

Our club is located in the heart of BS3, at the crossroads between Ashton, Southville and Bedminster and offers the perfect space to stay active, healthy and focused all winter long. Here are our top tips to navigate this period of the year.

1. If In Doubt, Do The Exercise You Enjoy!

When it’s cold and dark outside, building the motivation to go to the gym is hard at the best of times. If on top of that, your exercise routine is packed with stuff you don't really enjoy, it's not exactly a recipe for success.

So say for example, you love lifting weights but hate spending time on the treadmill, cut yourself some slack and go lift some weights! If you love a short HIIT session then do that.

Be flexible with your routine because ultimately, getting something done is better than nothing.

2. Make It Part of Your Routine

The best way to stay consistent through winter? Make training a habit. Whether you prefer early-morning gym sessions, a lunchtime spin class, or an evening Les Mills Body Pump, make it a non-negotiable part of your routine.

Workout Ashton offers over 60+ classes weekly that can be booked via our member's app so it's easy to fit exercise around your schedule.

3. Just get through the door.

This one may sound odd but just getting yourself to the gym can be half the battle. Once you walk through the door, you'll be surrounded by other welcoming staff, personal trainers on hand to help and a friendly community, meaning motivation kicks in naturally.

Simple tricks like always leaving spare gym kit at your desk at work can be a great way to make this process easier and remove excuses.

4. Keep It Simple — and Consistent

Every workout counts - even the short ones. Each session doesn't have to be perfect and chances are it won't be. Consistency rather than perfection is the goal. Set small goals each week and try to hit them.

If life does get in the way, as it inevitably does for everyone at some point, don't let it derail your whole week of exercise.

5. Recover Right

Winter is also the time to take care of recovery and wellbeing. After a tough workout, unwind in our sauna, refresh with a cold shower, and refuel at our on-site healthy café - perfect for a post-workout coffee, smoothie or meal.

Balancing effort with recovery helps you stay energised and injury-free especially when winter flu is doing it's best to derail your routine.

Final Thoughts

The winter months are hard for everyone and can be tricky to stay consistent in the gym. Make it easier to keep going by prioritising more of the exercise you enjoy, focus on consistency and simplicity and don't sweat it if life gets in the way.

From spin to yoga & pilates, to free weights, sauna sessions & our extensive cardio suite, we’ve got everything you need to stay motivated, all under one roof and especially in the winter months.

Find out more about joining the Workout Family here.