Exercising Safely This Winter

Life is a conundrum these days. We want to be fit and healthy while avoiding germs and contagion. We need to stay active, but the weather is (let’s be honest) icky. Exercise is vital but equipment, online classes, and gear are expensive. Don’t be discouraged, there are ways to combat holiday over-indulgence and beat the rainy-day blues without spending a dime. Exercise is extra important in the wintertime, and not just because of Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas cookies, and hand-warming cocoa. Healthline explains that it makes you feel happier by improving your mood and decreasing feelings of depression. It also helps the brain regulate stress and anxiety and produces endorphins that make us feel better. “Interestingly,” they say, “it doesn’t matter […]

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Get On Your Feet This Winter

Combine autumn’s cold, wet weather with sunsets falling during the 4:00 p.m. hour and you get a MAJOR case of the blahs. Even without the quarantine mandates of COVID-19, this time of year we’re trapped indoors more than we’d like. And, let’s face it, for much of that time we’re sitting (usually in pajamas, often in front of a screen or two). There’s not much we can do about the weather—or global pandemic—but small changes to our routine really can make a world of difference. The Mayo Clinic explains that “When you sit, you use less energy than you do when you stand or move. Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns. […]

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