Cold winter months are not as gloomy as you thought
Brrrrr, it’s getting cold out there. The long, dark, cold winter days may lead you to stay indoors snuggled up under a blanket. Not just because it’s cozy and warm, but because we’ve been filled with so many misconceptions about winter that you spend the winter months hibernating. It’s time to dispense with a few misconceptions about the winter months, so you don’t spend the coldest time of the year cooped up inside.
Believe it or not, you won’t get a cold from going outside in the cold.
If I go outside I’ll get a cold from the cold
This is probably the biggest myth of all. The cold, in and of itself will not make you sick. Quite the opposite. When we step out into the frosty winter air, the infection fighting cells in your body actually increase. Your body is well equipped to fight cold temperatures by basically putting more “man power” in action to fight the stress of being cold. Plus, the common cold – despite the name – prefers to live in temperature around 91 degrees. And let’s face it, right now, it’s not going to be 91 degrees outside or inside your nose.
Exercising in the cold is bad for me, so why bother going outside
Exercising in the cold makes you run faster and burn more calories
Maybe you don’t want to hear this because it’s a convenient excuse to stay inside under the covers, but people who exercise in the cold run faster and burn more calories. So get outside. Your daily run will be over quicker than you know it, burning more calories and spiking your endorphin levels making you feel on top of the world. And when you’re done, you can get right back under the blanket again. Without feeling guilty about sitting around all day
At least the cold relieves me of my allergies
Unfortunately for the 1 in 5 people who suffer from indoor/outdoor allergies, the winter months will not relieve you of the stuffy nose and scratchy throats. During the cold winter months we tend to spend more time indoors with the windows shut, which means poor air quality. Your pets also tend to be inside much more during the winter, and all of this can result in indoor allergies being much worse in the winter time. All the more reason to get outside and go for a walk or a quick run!
Winter snow pose a high risk of sunburn and skin damage
Reminder: when you brave the great and cold outdoors this winter, remember to wear sunscreen. Just because it is winter, doesn’t mean the sun doesn’t have the same sun burning powers as in the summer time. So remember to wear sunblock.