It’s cold and dark outside. The last thing you want to do is get out of your warm bed, put on gym clothes and go running in the rain or snow. So you decide to sleep in, maybe you’ll go tomorrow…if it warms up.

This is an easy habit to fall into; we’ve all been there before! So how do you find the motivation to keep going during these frigid, icy months? Here are five tips to stay on track with your workout schedule.

  1. Grab A Friend

Sometimes having someone there with you in the early, dark hours of the morning is just the kind of motivation you need. Someone who will hold you accountable for sleeping in or not showing up.

  1. Set Achievable Goals

Setting a specific goal for yourself can help motivate you to keep going (work with this sentence). Maybe you want to lose 5 pounds, or you want to increase your mile time. Make a specific, attainable goal for yourself that you can stick to.

  1. Embrace the Cold

Try cross country skiing! Make it a family activity – instead of sitting inside and watching TV all weekend- grab your gear and hit the slopes. Getting out town for a day might be an excellent motivator while getting great exercise!

  1. Keep Track of Your Exercises

Whether it’s via Instagram or in your journal you keep on your nightstand, writing it down or sharing your progress and goals can be rewarding and motivating!

  1. Watch What You Consume

The winter months are notorious for fatty comfort food. Make sure you are aware of what you are consuming and workout accordingly. Sometimes just knowing how much butter was put into those mashed potatoes you had second helpings of is enough to jump on your treadmill!