Stay Motivated to Exercise

Motivation is the first challenge when attempting to stay fit in the #wintertime, says Colorado Advance Orthopedics, especially if you’re used to staying active outdoors. Make workouts part of your weekly plan and set a goal for the number of days a week you plan to exercise. Set times based on when you’re most likely to exercise based on your rhythms, or target a minimum number of days or hours to create a flexible routine. And make your exercise fun! “Exercise shouldn’t be a chore. You’re much more likely to stick with your routine if you choose activities you enjoy.” #ColdWeatherFitness

Satisfying Your Midwinter Fitness Goals

Recommendations say that adults ages 18 to 65 years should attempt to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days a week, but that’s difficult during the cold, dark days of #winter. To meet goals even when the weather is treacherous, Brown University Health says, bring your exercise indoors. Join a gym, subscribe to an online fitness class or download a smartphone app that meets your fitness goals and current capabilities. Track your steps. Or stroll through your local office building, mall or big-box store. Any physical activity is healthier than doom-scrolling on the couch! #ColdWeatherFitness

How to Exercise in Winter Weather

It’s difficult to stay motivated for #exercise when the temperatures outside are sub-zero, Today says. Plan ahead to maintain a #healthy lifestyle schedule during #winter by having all the gear you need ready when you wake up — even if it means warm clothing for an outdoor workout. Having an exercise partner can help maintain motivation by helping you show up when you might not feel like it, even attending a virtual class from the privacy of your own home. If you belong to a gym, make a goal to just get there; once you’re there, you’ll be motivated to get at least a little exercise. #ColdWeatherFitness

Do a Pre-Holiday Decluttering

It may be hard to believe, but the #holidays are right around the corner! Two weeks from now, you’ll be enjoying a #Thanksgiving feast; then, it’s on to the big shopping and gift grabs of the Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa season.

Do yourself a favor, and #declutter ahead of those holiday events. Whether you’re going to be hosting or not, #streamlining your home and weeding out your extra #stuff will help you get ready for seasonal #celebrations with less stress.

Start with the #kitchen. You may be baking cookies, contributing a side dish to the potluck or hosting a family feast. Go through your cabinets and drawers, and pull out anything that’s broken, cracked or chipped. #Trash and #recycle these items immediately.

If you find anything you haven’t used in more than a year or is ever-so-slightly less than perfect but still could be of use to someone, set it aside in a box or bag and #schedule a #free #donation #pickup with ClothingDonations.org.

Before you know it, your kitchen will be streamlined and ready to churn out that green-bean casserole or roast turkey with no fuss. Why? Because you’ll be able to find the cooking tools, serving dishes and dinnerware you need quickly because you’ve eliminated the #clutter!

Next, do the same thing as you get any #holiday #décor items out of #storage. Are some of your table linens worn and stained? Are those strings of twinkly lights half-lit? Clean and fix them if you can, and #trash them if you can’t. And again, you can #donate anything that no longer makes the cut.

“I love a good declutter before the holiday season,” professional organizer Carly Adams told Real Simple. “The best time to #declutter and #tidy the spaces you’ll be using to #host guests is before the social expectations of the holidays are here.”

Prepare your home for the holidays now! With a quick #decluttering, you’ll be able to everything you really need faster, reduce the stress surrounding holiday gatherings and have a happier holiday season. #HolidayDeclutttering

Donate Stuff to Veterans in Honor of Their Service

The easiest way to #honor those who served this Veterans Day is to #clean out and #declutter a drawer, #closet, room or #storage space; find still-useful clothing and household items that you no longer need or want; and #donate them to ClothingDonations.org. A driver will arrive at your home on the scheduled day and whisk away that extra #junk, leaving you with a tax-deductible receipt and all the extra #space you rediscovered. It won’t take long to gather several bags or boxes for #pickup, so you can still make the Veterans Day #parade, memorial or banquet after you purge. #VeteransDay