Top Tips for Staying Consistent Over Winter

Staying active in winter can feel harder than at any other time of year. The colder weather, darker evenings and busy festive schedules can all disrupt routines, and that’s completely normal. But keeping some level of movement in your week can make a big difference to your physical and mental wellbeing.

You don’t need to be perfect. You don't need to push yourself to extremes. You just need a routine that works for you during the winter months.

Here are some practical, realistic ways to stay consistent.

1. Set Simple, Achievable Goals

   Winter is not the time for big, intense fitness resolutions. Instead, choose goals that are actually doable.

   Examples include:

   • Two visits per week, no matter the activity

   • One swim + one gym session

   • One class you genuinely enjoy

   • A short visit after work instead of a long session at the weekend

   Small goals build confidence and momentum, and they’re easier to stick to when your motivation dips.

   2. Plan Your Week in Advance

   A bit of planning goes a long way. When you’ve already decided what you’re doing and when you’re doing it, you’re far more likely to follow through.

   You could try:

   • Booking your classes at the start of the week

   • Checking the timetable and choosing specific sessions

   • Keeping your gym bag ready in the car by the door

   • Using reminders so it becomes part of your schedule

   Think of it as creating fewer decisions for “future you” during a cold, dark evening.

   3. Build a Routine You Can Actually Stick To

   Consistency doesn’t always mean frequency, it means regularity. Even one or two weekly sessions can keep your routine steady through the winter.

   A routine could look like:

   • Monday gym

   • Wednesday swim

   • Sunday morning class

   Or it could simply be:

   • Two visits on any days that suit your week

   The important thing is that it feels manageable.

   4. Mix Up Your Activities to Stay Motivated

   It’s easy to get bored doing the same exercise routine repeatedly. Winter is a great time to try different activities indoors where it’s warm, bright and comfortable.

   You could try rotating between:

   • Gym workouts

   • Swimming

   • Sauna sessions

   • Group exercise classes

   • Low impact activities like Yoga or Pilates

   This variety helps keep things fresh and stops routine fatigue.

   5. Make Indoor Fitness Your Winter Advantage

   Winter weather can be unpredictable, making outdoor plans harder. Indoor fitness gives you stability, structure and comfort when you need it most.

   Your local leisure centre gives you:

   • A warm gym environment

   • A relaxing pool for swimming

   • Instructor led classes for motivation

   • A sauna to unwind and recover

   Think of your fitness centre as your “winter base”, a dependable place where movement always feels doable.

   6. Focus on Feeling Good, Not Just Hitting Targets

   Winter is a time when motivation naturally dips. Instead of aiming for performance based goals, shift your mindset towards how movement makes you feel.

   Focus on benefits such as:

   • Better mood

   • More energy

   • Reduced stress

   • Improved sleep

   • A sense of normality and routine

   These benefits are especially important during darker months when energy levels can fluctuate.

   7. Don’t Aim for Perfection, Aim for Progress

   Everyone misses sessions. Work gets busy. School holidays appear. Christmas plans take over. It’s all part of life.

   If you fall out of routine:

   • Don’t wait for Monday

   • Don’t wait for January

   • Don’t think you’ve “failed”

   Just start again with one visit. That’s all it takes to get back on track.

   8. Use Community Support to Stay Motivated

   One of the biggest advantages of leisure centres is the community around them. You’re surrounded by people who are trying to stay active just like you.

   Support comes from:

   • Seeing familiar faces in classes

   • Instructors who encourage you

   • Reception staff who know you by name

   • Swimming partners or class groups

   • Friends you make along the way

   Feeling part of something makes consistency easier.

   9. Remember: A Little Now Makes January Easier

   A lot of people drop everything in December and plan to restart in January, but that can make the restart feel overwhelming.

   If you maintain even a small routine, two visits a week, one swim, a quick class, you’ll roll into January feeling prepared, not pressured.

   It also stops you feeling like you’re starting from scratch!

   Staying consistent during winter doesn’t mean doing more. It means doing enough to feel good, stay active and keep some structure in your week. With warm indoor spaces, a friendly community and plenty of ways to move, your leisure centre is here to support you through the winter months, one session at a time.