5 Ways to Stay Active While You’re Stuck Inside

If you haven't noticed, the winter chill has officially hit. Yes, it’s completely normal to want to run inside and bundle up in a hundred layers of clothing and stay in bed...but you have to think about your health. Instead of hibernating all winter and dropping your healthy habits, embrace the time and think about healthy resolutions, creating a fitness plan for the year, and changing your attitude about physical activity during this rather frigid season. After all, exercise helps to beat those wintertime blues!

In addition to working on your own health, this could be a great time of year to teach your children the importance of everyday activity and good eating habits, as both can help prevent health problems this season and for years to come. Follow these five family-friendly tips for staying active and healthy while you’re stuck inside this winter.

Five Ways to Stay Active While You’re Stuck Inside
1. Change your attitude. If your motivation for winter exercise is frozen, start focusing on what you love about the season, and set some new, fresh goals to heat things up. Being sedentary for too long can take a serious toll on our health. This is a time to get out of bed, get excited and plan future health goals and dreams!

2. Trade TV time for active time. It is recommended that children get at least one hour of physical activity a day, and that adults attempt about 30 active minutes per day. Rather than sit and watch a movie for family time, try some new ways to get everyone moving. As we mentioned above, it is important to break up sedentary periods throughout the day, so get creative and try a work out DVD, Wii exercise game or use a mobile exercise App a few times a day together.

3. Operation Clean House. If you’re going to be stuck inside all day, why not be productive and active. Develop an “Operation Clean House” family competition. American Heart Association offers fun ideas on keeping the kids active, increasing household chore intensity and getting the entire family involved.

4. Cook meals and eat together. Cooking a meal together will not only allow for fun, family bonding time, but possibly health rewards for children. One study showed that adolescents eat more healthfully when eating with their families, and that family meals may link to other health benefits in terms of psychologically, behaviorally, and more.

5. End your day by taking a walk together. This is one way to break up inactive periods after a meal and to end the day on a positive note with a little extra family time. If it is still too cold, create a movable space indoors and take a stroll around the house.

For more ideas on staying active with your kids, check out or "Be Active" Pinterest board, or click here for a helpful, printable tip sheet.

Written By 
Amanda Taylor
Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living

[Image source: flickr/drurydrama]