As winter is upon us, the temperature drops and the days get shorter, many of us may prefer to stay inside our cottages, warm in front of a fireplace.
There can be many reasons why we lose our motivation to move during the winter months. In winter, low levels of natural light combined with shorter days reduce vitamin D intake. This is why we feel tired. Many people also suffer from sleep problems during the winter, which further decreases their energy levels.
Being active all year round has many health benefits. Physical activity can even counter some negative effects of the winter climate of our energy levels and mood.
The benefits of regular physical activity are widely known for fitness – including weight loss, lowering the risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer.
Physical activity is also associated with better immune function and is also important for well-being. Getting active has been shown to reduce fatigue and improve job satisfaction, optimism, self-esteem, and better stress management.
Although the winter climate does not always allow it, outdoor activity is also very useful in reducing mental fatigue and stress, improving well-being, satisfaction and zest for life.
But to get all of these benefits, you need to make sure you get enough exercise. A minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity) per week is recommended. This can easily be broken down into small ten minute sessions over the course of the week. Moderate-intensity activity is enough to increase your heart rate, warm you up and increase your breathing capacity.
The activity you choose is intense enough if you can still talk, but not sing, while you exercise.
There are many ways to be active during the winter. In addition to sport and leisure, walking and even household chores contribute to this. The most important thing is to reduce the time you spend sitting and getting outside as much as possible, in the light of day, in order to experience the additional health benefits.
Join us at www.lacsetchalets.com