Around Oz M
Peter Flynn writes to us from down under
We’re in the middle of winter down under, and I must admit that it becomes harder for me every year to get out of bed early in the morning. Unlike much of Europe, most of Australia doesn’t get minus-zero mornings. Here in Perth, for example, average daily temperatures in winter are between 5 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Lately, though, I’ve seen lots of news stories about how to keep exercising on cold mornings and nights. Back in my rugby-playing youth, that wasn’t a problem. I went running and attended training at least three nights a week, as well as playing a match on Sundays. Obviously, I was motivated to stay fit enough to help my team win.
Finding reasons to keep training in winter is a common theme in news articles. The sharpest single piece of advice is that the body shape you want for summer is built during winter. Put a photograph of yourself in top condition on the bedroom mirror, along with a list of other reasons that make sense to you.
The advice that’s most often repeated is to find an exercise friend – to make yourself responsible to somebody, not something. Similarly, you can join an exercise class or club, or take part in physical activities that raise money for good things, such as cancer research.
Many community organizations offer free introductory classes to help you get fit. My local council has a beautiful big park, only a few hundred metres away from where I live, with paths around the lakes and plenty of soft exercise equipment. I could go there just to look at all the waterbirds.
Another, more scientific piece of advice is not to get SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Bad weather and not enough sunlight can lower the brain’s level of serotonin, the “happy” hormone, and so reduce energy levels. Regular exercise works the other way, helping the body to produce feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which can lift your mood.
Of course, there are also tips about buying new activewear and running shoes to make you feel better, but far more practical for me is the advice to get warmer clothing to wear for winter fitness sessions. And, if it’s really wet outside, do your training indoors, at home.
Most importantly, winter training has to be part of your life schedule. Treat physical exercise like a meeting at work, a dinner date or a visit to the doctor. You wouldn’t fail to turn up to any of those.
Finally, write down your plan and list the rewards you’ll give yourself for staying with it. Put that piece of paper where you’ll see it every day.
So, I’ll be up early tomorrow for my walk in the park, reminding myself that spring and warmer weather both begin in September.