There are, however, some simple ways to make your time outdoors more enjoyable.
“One of my favorite sayings is, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear,’” Sheldon said. “Winter exercise is all about proper thermoregulation – both from the inside and outside. So that means dressing appropriately and staying well fed and hydrated.”
The most common mistake Sheldon sees is that people don’t dress appropriately – either over-dressing or under-dressing. Dressing like an onion is advisable – in layers that can easily be taken off and put back on as needed.
“The body is great at regulating temperatures if we’re wearing the right clothing,” Sheldon said.
Follow the three Ws when it comes to layers – wicking, warm and weather. A wicking layer is worn closest to the skin and will wick away the moisture. The warm layer comes next – think fleece – followed by a weather layer designed to block the elements.
Remember when your mom nagged you about wearing a hat? Turns out she was right. Body heat is lost through whatever part of your body is uncovered, so a hat and gloves are important.
While getting out and getting active are good for your health, it can also be good for your mindset.
“It gets dark so early, it’s easy to just stay inside,” Sheldon said. “But getting out can really help your attitude this time of year.”
Studies have shown that outdoor activity can reduce stress and anxiety levels. Not to mention winter activities, like sledding and ice skating, can be fun for the entire family.
“And people don’t always think of things like hiking in the winter, but it’s a perfect time to do that too,” Sheldon said. “We want people to enjoy our parks in every season.”
Outdoor fun do’s and don’ts
From Angie Sheldon, Five Rivers MetroParks
* Common mistake: bundling up and working up a sweat, which can cause you to get cold quickly once you stop exercising.
Best practice: dress in layers so you can easily unzip layers or remove clothing as you get warm and start to sweat and then put them back on as you get cold.
* Common mistake: remembering your jacket, but forgetting about your extremities.
Best practice: remember to protect your ears, hands and feet from the elements. When it gets cold outside, there's an increased risk of you getting frostbite on these areas since your body concentrates blood flow to your critical organs in the core.
* Common mistake: wearing cotton.
Best practice: stick to synthetic materials that will help wick away moisture and keep you warmer even if they do get wet.
* Common mistake: not drinking enough water.
Best practice: remember to hydrate. We often forget how important this is when it's not hot outside, but anytime you're exercising, you're losing water to sweating and breathing.
Other considerations:
* Wearing brightly colored or reflective clothing to make you visible, especially since it gets dark so early in the winter months.
* If you’re walking or running on ice and snow, make sure you have shoes with good traction, consider Yaktrax to help avoid slipping.
* Warm up a little indoors to get your core temperature up and warm up your muscles before you head out.
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