We love autumn just as much as the next person but there is one thing autumn isn’t so great for and that’s feeling motivated to exercise! We’re not saying everyone stops caring about staying fit and healthy throughout the colder seasons, but let’s face it, stepping out of the front door for your morning run felt way easier when the skies weren’t dark and you couldn’t see your breath in the air! Exercising in autumn can feel daunting and totally unappealing but it’s all about taking your workout regime and making a few adaptations. That way, you can reap all the benefits of looking after your body, even when the conditions you’re training in aren’t the most ideal. So before you pack up your trainers for the winter, discover our hacks for staying fit in Autumn and throughout cold seasons that keep us motivated to be the best versions of ourselves!

SPF
Runners and outdoor workout-ers, this tip is for you! The sun may be scarce this time of year but that doesn’t mean you needn’t worry about UVA and UVB damage. Even though you can’t feel the heat, the sun’s strong ultraviolet rays can cause harm to our skin all year round and combined with harsh winds and cold temperatures, your skin will not be happy or healthy. The same also goes for your pout – chapped lips can become very sore and sensitive so finding a moisturising balm can be a real autumnal skin saviour!

Activewear
Put away the dinky running shorts you were donning in the summer and start thinking about your autumnal style! The art of layering will stand you in good stead this season as it’s not so cold that you need to keep your layers on the entire run but you’ll need something warm to get you going. Thermal, long-sleeved tops are a great base layer and a lot of brands provide sweat-wicking fabrics that will help keep you dry and insulated throughout your workout. Believe us, there is nothing worse than feeling wet and cold from your own moisture! Next, you’ll probably want a light but warming jacket to help make the first few steps, lunges, whatever you’re doing, that little bit easier. You can always strip off halfway through with a casual wrap around the waist look! For some activewear inspo, check out our online store here and browse the latest styles from our favourite brands.

Preparation
Director & Founder of Hip & Healthy, Sadie, is a huge advocate of preparing your activewear the night before a morning workout to save time and effort when you know getting out from under your cosy covers is going to be a challenge! It will eliminate rummaging around for your favourite pilates bra and sweat-wicking leggings in the dark and the only task you have to perform is lacing up your trainers and stepping out the door.

Little and often
Sometimes setting yourself a massive, DOMS-inducing workout or a Paula Radcliff approved run, you can often feel intimidated or a bit overwhelmed. So we suggest until you find your autumn groove, to make your workouts shorter and sweeter. This way, even if you only have 15-30 minutes spare in your day, you can still get in a workout. Think you can’t get a challenging workout in only 15 minutes? Let us introduce you to our friend HIIT (AKA High-Intensity Interval Training). This training method of constantly raising and lowering your heart rate can not only produce rosy red cheeks and a fired up metabolism, but can also take as little as 15 minutes to do!

Scheduling
This week, make it your priority to schedule your workouts rather than leaving it to chance (we all know how that story ends!). Why not plan a few evening yoga classes so you can de-stress after a long day at work? Or if you’re more of the social kind, perhaps you can organise a few run catch-ups with your best fitness bunny? Either way, scheduling in exercise at the beginning of the week will remove all excuses not to stay fit – all you have to do is turn up, sweat, and feel awesome!

words by Molly Jennings