START WITH THE SUNRISE

CHILLY, DARK MORNINGS MAKE IT HARD TO BOUNCE OUT OF BED WHEN YOU HEAR THAT DREADED ALARM, BUT HERE’S WHY IT’S WORTH DITCHING THE DOONA FOR A WINTER WORKOUT

May in Australia always brings about a seasonal change as the temperatures drop and we begin to feel winter peering over the fence.

Saying goodbye to our warm, cosy bed and facing the dark mornings is enough to stop a lot of us in our tracks.

Bears hibernate in winter, so can our workouts. Some people take it as a warrantable excuse, in that something as simple as the cooler weather can dictate their wellbeing. Usually, though, the summer heat also provides a similar excuse.

I find the change in season refreshing. It encourages us to swap things around while removing the boredom of what is familiar.

Perhaps you dislike sweating in the summertime? Then working out in winter is the perfect opportunity to don your walking shoes and enjoy watching the later sunrise.

You’ll be surprised at how much further or longer you can workout without feeling like you are going to keel over in the heat.

If you feel less motivated by a high-intensity workout try something tamer such as yoga or

pilates to work with your natural rhythm.

Let’s debunk one myth. You may assume waking early for a workout becomes second nature if you’ve done it over and over … well, I don’t mean to burst your bubble but it doesn’t.

I’ve experienced a good 20 years of early morning alarm wake ups and each one was as hard as the previous day’s, so there is simply no point waiting for it to magically seem effortless, especially during winter. It can be a huge mind game to actually react positively to an alarm.

I know the first thing many of us do is look for excuses ... excuses why you need to stay in bed, why you need more sleep, why you’ll do it tomorrow instead. I know, we all do it but if you have a few reasons why you should get out of bed up your sleeve it can make a huge difference.

Keep these mind next time your alarm goes off:

1 Seeing the sunrise is one of life’s simple pleasures. Most days are spent indoors during the cooler months, so it’s nice to soak up some vitamin D and fresh air before the day begins and you run out of light in the afternoon.

2 Staying active helps spark the immune system cells, so it helps to fight off colds and cases of flu. Research at Duke University in the USA found that cardio work will not only up the serotonin in your skull, but that it is four times more effective at reducing symptoms of depression if you feel you suffer from the winter blues.

3 Instead of craving stodgy comfort foods, you’ll feel like, and make, healthier choices throughout the day.

In the end, our motivation stems from the values we place on maintaining our wellbeing, but hopefully these hints may plant a seed.

“IF YOU FEEL LESS MOTIVATED BY A HIGHINTENSITY WORKOUT TRY YOGA OR PILATES.”