While many people are more active in the warmer months, it may be even more important to stay active in the winter, when seasonal affective disorder (SAD) takes its toll. Staying active in the winter allows your body to release endorphins, keeping your mood up and your stress levels down.

While it may seem like all of the best outdoor activities are reserved for the summer months, this simply isn't the case. There are still some great things that you can do outside during the colder part of the year.

In this guide, we'll help you discover some of the easiest outdoor activities and exercises that you can do during the winter.

Before You Get Started

Before you start doing a lot of fun outdoor activities and exercises, be sure that you recognise the importance of wearing sunscreen in winter. Just like in the summer months, UV rays can be a problem and your skin can get damaged if you're not prepared.

Even if the sun isn't out completely, you'll still be exposed to UV rays. So, check out our sunscreen selection before you start spending extended periods of time doing outdoor activities and exercises.

Easy Outdoor Winter Activities

If you want to take part in some fun winter outdoor activities, there are some great options to choose from. Here are some easy activities that you can do during cold weather...

Skiing

If you want to stay active in the winter, you don't have to look any further than the season's most iconic sport. Hitting the slopes can be a great way to stay active and stay in shape while also having a blast doing it. Skiing can also give you a great reason to take a winter holiday.

Skiing does a great job of improving your muscular and cardiovascular fitness and can release endorphins and burn calories as well. 

Cycling

Cycling is another great activity to do in the winter to stay fit and active. As long as it's not too cold or wet out and you dress with warmth in mind, biking can still be a lot of fun.

Like walking, bike riding can improve your cardiovascular fitness and will keep your joints and muscles strong and flexible. 

Skateboarding

If you're feeling a bit more daring, then skateboarding can be a great hobby to take up.

Skateboarding can be more of an exercise than you might expect and can do a great job of improving your coordination and reflexes. It can also be a great form of stress relief.

However, be sure that you stay safe when skateboarding. No matter your age or experience level, it's always best to wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards.

Cold Water Swimming

To stay more active in the winter, you may also want to join the growing population of cold water swimmers, aka "the icebergers".

Cold water swimming offers all of the same benefits as swimming in the warmer months, but can actually be even more beneficial in some ways. The activity can improve your immune system, boost your mood, and increase your circulation. You may even be able to burn more calories from cold water swimming since your body will need to work harder to stay warm in the cold water. 

Walking, Jogging, and Running

Don't underestimate the benefits of a good walk, job or park run. They might be some of the most straightforward exercise activities that you can do during the winter, but they will keep you fit.

Walking, jogging and running is great for your cardiovascular health, can improve your mood and release endorphins. You can also easily pace yourself to suit your fitness level and the temperature.

Easy Outdoor Exercises

If your primary goal is to stay in shape, there are some great exercises that you can easily do outside in the winter. Here are some of the main exercises that you might want to add to your winter routine...

Squats

Squats are one of the best exercises for targeting the leg muscles, your lower back, and your core. They're also a great exercise to do outside during the winter.

To get the most out of squats, you may want to look for an outdoor park that has a squat press. A squat press will allow you to add more resistance to your exercise.

Push-Ups

It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that push-ups remain one of the best exercises for improving physical fitness. They're also a great exercise to use in the winter, both indoors and outdoors. 

Push-ups can be very useful for improving your upper body strength and can also improve your flexibility, balance, and posture as well. 

Jump Rope

Not just for kids, jump rope is a low-impact, high-intensity exercise that can do great things for your body. It's a useful cardio exercise that you can do just about anywhere.

Jumping rope is a great way to get your heart rate up, so be sure to consider adding this exercise to your routine to improve your physical fitness during the winter.

Pull-Ups

Simple but not necessarily easy, you may also want to start doing pull-ups during the colder months. It's a great idea to find an outdoor park gym that has a pull-up bar in your area.

Doing pull-ups regularly can add a lot of strength to your upper body. They can improve your back, arms, and shoulders, and can do a great job of increasing your overall fitness level.

Staying Active With These Winter Outdoor Activities

While you may be tempted to stay inside more during the winter, it's a great idea to start doing more outdoor activities and exercises instead. By being active in the winter, you can stay in shape and will have a better chance of avoiding seasonal depression. 

Want to make sure you're prepared for outdoor activities? Check out our People4Ocean sunscreen duo packs today!