How to Get The Job Done in the Offseason

Sarah Williams, Journalism Student

Bikini season is long gone, and wintry weather has fallen upon us. Every winter after high school soccer season ends, I have struggled to stay in shape and find motivation to work out in the offseason. Many will agree that it is not enjoyable to go running in the bitter cold or go to the gym the day before Thanksgiving. Personally, I prefer to sit by the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate watching a movie rather than going to run or hitting the gym to pump iron. How can someone stay motivated to exercise during snow season?

Many people, especially high school girls, will agree that the motivation to exercise dwindles as the temperature drops. How do some people find the drive to continue in the winter? Generally, I’ve noticed that it is easier to work out with a partner or group of people. Being in the presence of others boosts your performance and leads in an increase in effort and work ethic. If you’re looking to go to a gym, have a partner go with you. They can also help you keep track of time or number of repetitions for a certain exercise. In addition, creating an ambitious playlist of songs will help to inspire you to pick up the weights. When fatigue is setting in, the right song will inspire you to persist.

After talking to a number of students who attend Pennridge High School, I’ve discovered that many of them wear a Fitbit or a fitness tracker for counting steps, calories burned, floors climbed, and more. Fitness trackers challenge you to complete a goal or task. Hence, I began to wear my Fitbit in order to challenge myself, considering that fall sports ended recently. Looking at the amount of calories burned provokes a feeling of satisfaction and naturally leads to the will to put in more work. I have also found that planning to go running in the morning is very methodical and productive. This way, I don’t have to avoid it or wait to exercise. Mother of 2 current Pennridge students Nop Williams said that “running in the morning leaves me energized for the rest of the day” and running in the morning “leaves the rest of the day to spend how [you] want without having to worry about working out.”

If you don’t think these methods are enough to boost your motivation, I suggest keeping track of your progress and creating a schedule that leads to a long-term goal, such as running two miles in fifteen minutes or being able to do 40 consecutive push-ups. Seeing your progress written down induces a sense of satisfaction and makes your goal seem that much more attainable. After each workout, write down how much you’ve done and what you plan to accomplish the next session. Doing this makes me feel proud of what I’ve done and has proven to be a sufficient factor for motivation.

As author Karen Lamb said, “One year ago you will wish you had started today.” Put down your phone, get off the couch, and allow yourself to find the motivation to get into top-notch shape.