Walking in cold weather actually has benefits that are specific to the season. It’s always a good idea to get moving in your free time, so hopefully some of these advantages to winter walking will motivate you!
It burns more calories
Your body has to work harder to stay warm if you take your daily walk outside in the cold, meaning you burn more calories with the same amount of effort.
It exposes you to sunlight
This is a rarer occurrence during winter months, but still a vitally important one. Just 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure a day is enough to help stimulate the production of vitamin D in your skin, which is crucial to your body’s absorption of calcium, and to help stave off Seasonal Affective Disorder from lack of sunlight.
It boosts endorphins
Getting your body moving produces endorphins (happiness hormones), and these are welcome friends during the darker, colder winter months that can sometimes trigger any level of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine, and be careful in colder temperatures if you have asthma, COPD, a heart condition, or any other circumstances that could be affected by the cooler temperatures. Always be sure to dress appropriately, especially choosing shoes with good traction.
3-Minute Moisturizing Window
We all know that winter can wreak havoc on your skin. Numerous products tout their effectiveness to keep you moisturized. However, experts at the Mayo Clinic have revealed that regardless of the products you use, there may actually be an optimal time to moisturize.
The Mayo Clinic recommends applying your chosen moisturizer as soon as you step out of the bath or shower onto your bath mat, even before drying your skin. Here’s why:
- Your skin has been optimally soaked in hydrating water from the shower or bath.
- Your pores are more open thanks to steam and higher temperatures.
- Your moisturizer, likely containing an oily base, will be able to seal in the water on your skin.
It’s referred to as the 3-Minute Moisturizing Window, suggesting that once three minutes have passed, your skin will no longer be carrying as much hydration from your bath or shower, and your pores will have begun closing back to their normal state.
Apply your moisturizer as soon as you step out of the bath or shower, even before drying your skin!