Find out how Ian Palmer embraces winter with a goal of spending 10 hours outdoors weekly. Highlights include mental and physical health benefits, resilience-building, and connection with nature.
Let's face it: getting outside in winter can sometimes be as appealing as dipping your extremities in an ice bath. When the days are short, dark, and - let's be honest - rubbish, the sofa looks so much friendlier than a rain-soaked run or a mud-caked hike.
Yet, there's something oddly satisfying about embracing winter's harshness and setting a weekly goal of time spent outside (in this case, 10 hours) can give you the motivation to get out of the door, where chances are, it's not actually as bad out there as you think. So, here's how to hit those hours and actually (maybe) enjoy it.
Why 10 Hours?
Why?
you might say, while staring at your sodden trainers. It's an achievable number that gives you accountability - small doses during the working week and longer sessions at weekends. Plus, the outdoors, even when draped in fog and drizzle, is surprisingly good for you:
- Mental Health Boost: Natural light, or the vague attempt at it, helps combat the winter blues. A brisk, chilly walk can actually perk up your mood–eventually.
- Physical Activity: Moving around in the cold burns calories, which at least justifies that post-hike hot chocolate (or pint).
- Resilience Training: Getting outside when it's grim does wonders for building grit. Or maybe it's just stubbornness. Either way, you feel tougher.
- Connection with Nature: Winter reveals a quieter side of nature, and there's something satisfying about noticing frost patterns, watching birds struggle with the wind, or simply surviving the elements.
My Not-So-Scientific Rules for the 10-Hour Goal
Setting a time goal does depend upon your aims. If you're working towards racing fitness for the spring/summer, you might want to do as I do and only count proper
exercise. Dog walks, unfortunately, don't make the cut, apologies to the pooch. And my commute? Not even close. Instead, my hours come from things like cycling, running, and an assortment of somewhat desperate strength exercises. Here's a typical weekly schedule:
- 2 x 3-hour rides (for those particularly masochistic days)
- Mid-week turbo sessions (thankfully indoors but mentally still counts)
- A run and a weights session
Yes, I know, it's overkill for some. But the goal, aside from a questionable dose of personal discipline, keeps me moving through winter. If just getting out there and keeping healthy is more important to you than maintaining peak athletic performance, then sure, let the less ‘formal' exercise count. Gentle walks with the dog round the park probably won't hone your winning time in a race next year but it certainly counts in terms of staying mentally healthy.
Breaking Down the 10 Hours
Let's be honest: if it's chucking it down outside, no one is chomping at the bit to go for a refreshing
jog. Here are some tips to make outdoor time manageable, even enjoyable:
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Start Small: If 10 hours sounds like a prison sentence, begin with a couple of hours, spread over 3 or 4 short outings. If you know you'll be back in the warm within half in hour, it's much easier to get out of the door. The main thing is having a time goal and sticking to it. Make a chart, stick it on the fridge door and tick off the hours.
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Do What You Like: If the thought of being in awful weather whilst doing vomit-inducing speed reps is too much, make it a slow jog or walk. Save the reps for a dry day. Trust me, anything is more tolerable when you're doing something fun-ish. Reps don't half warm you up quickly though…
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Bring a Friend: Misery loves company. And frankly, committing to meet someone makes you more likely to brave the weather. Also, they might have snacks.
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Dress Like an Onion: Seriously, layers are your friend. Invest in good gloves, a hat, and thermal socks, because numb toes aren't motivation-boosters.
Embracing the Unique
Joy of Winter
Winter does offer a few rewards if you're willing to look. There's a stillness outside that summer just doesn't have. The landscapes look different - frost-covered fields, foggy mornings, and the occasional glimpse of sun glinting through mist. Then, of course, there's mud, rain, and an all-consuming dampness that turns even the hardiest waterproof into a sponge. But hey, nothing says I'm alive
like mud splattered up to your knees.
Fitting Your Outdoor Hours into Life
Finding time for this outdoorsy adventure can be tricky. Here's how to sneak it in:
- Combine errands with outdoor time by walking to the shops/work or running to the post box.
- Put it in your diary like an important meeting. Then laugh at yourself for doing so.
- Break it up into little chunks. Even five minutes in the cold adds up over a week.
Conclusion: A Commitment to Staying Sane
Setting a goal of 10 hours outside in winter may seem borderline madness, but it's a surprisingly rewarding way to embrace the season. You get resilience, improved fitness, and, best of all, plenty of material for complaints (or smug satisfaction). So go on, brave the drizzle, and give those 10 hours a try - you might even like it.