When winter comes around, and the weather is cold, it is tempting to stay cuddled up in bed, watch movies, and eat junk food. Eventually, after doing this for a while, one remembers that summer will return. So, a person may try to go outside for a run or take a trip to the gym, only to realize that it is too cold to exercise.

However, there are actually many ways to stay in shape without even leaving the house. How is that possible? Well, here are some ways:

1. Clean the house.

One thing people often do not think about is the calorie burn that comes just from doing household chores. Getting out of bed and vacuuming, sweeping, or mopping increases one’s heart rate and uses arm muscles.  Take it up a notch and do laundry. Baskets full of clothes can be surprisingly heavy.

 2. Make the most of apps.

Something that takes a little more effort, but can end up being a lot of fun, are workouts found on apps, such as YouTube and Pinterest. There are so many types of workouts that can be found on YouTube including kickboxing, yoga, and full body cardio. These workouts have different difficulty levels, as well. Some YouTube channel recommendations for beginners are Fitness Blender and Pop Sugar Fitness. There are also specific fitness apps, as well, like Nike Training and MyFitnessPal. The best part of these workouts is that they are free and can be done at home, maybe even in one’s pajamas.

3. Take the stairs.

Often times, while out and about, people opt out of stairs for escalators or elevators. Don’t be one of those people. Take the stairs. Most people don’t realize that just going up and down their stairs is a good form of exercise. Also, don’t stop at just walking up the stairs occasionally. Jog up the stairs. Hop up the stairs. Skip a few stairs and jump to get to the next one. There are many ways to exercise on stairs without equipment, such as lunging and doing squats. In fact, workouts specifically designed for stairs can be found on Pinterest.

4. Avoid junk food.

The thing that is the hardest to do is saying ‘no’ to junk food. When it is cold and near Valentine’s Day, everyone wants to stay inside and eat chocolate. Even though it’s hard, one needs to replace unhealthy snacks and treats for healthier options. Just Googling recipes is an easy and fun way to find healthy foods that are tasty, as well.

Just because it is winter does not mean one has to forsake their fitness and lose motivation. Put in the effort and the results will be evident in the summer. Staying in shape is a year-round task.