08 Mar Great eight ways to ease stress of a long winter

The end of cold and snow is getting near, but depending on where you live Old Man Winter may still have a strong grip on the climate.
It can be a stressful time as we get teased with more and more breaks of warm weather, only to be hit with the return of cold temperatures, wind and even snow.
If cabin fever is keeping you stressed out, here are my great eight healthy ways to relieve end-of-winter stress.
1. Exercise – Exercise can give you a natural high by releasing endorphins, plus if you’re in good shape you’ll feel better. Get three days or more a week of exercise, doing things ranging from 30 minutes on a treadmill, to working out on an elliptical machine to using free weights.
2. Change your workout routine – If you‘ve been doing a lot of the same things all winter, try to change up you exercise routine some. When there are breaks of nice weather for an hour or so here or there, or a even a few days of clear, go outside for some fresh air and exercise. Even getting outside once or twice a week for a bike ride, jog or walk can do a world of good for your mood.
3. Drink more water – Make sure to stay well hydrated – even in colder weather some people can get dehydrated if they don‘t drink enough water.
4. Take a vacation – Even if it’s only for a day or two, take a break to get away from day-to-day stresses.
5. Eat fruit – Get natural nutrition and an energy boost with a snack that brightens up your day.
6. Wear proper outdoors clothing – Dress in layers to help keep you warm enough because in late winter and early spring it‘s probably colder than it seems, even on nice sunny days.
7. Eat healthy – A well-balanced, healthy diet can give you the nutrition to feel better physically, have more energy and, in turn, have a better mental outlook.
8. Plan ahead – Use your time wisely to have enough left over to schedule some of these stress relievers.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com