Finally! It has taken a few months, but you have finally figured out how to fit exercise into your busy schedule and now it is a part of your daily routine. Winter break, however, is fast approaching. Without Cousens Gym in your backyard, are you going to ditch your workout routine for a cozy spot on your family's sofa? Don't even think about it. With a little planning and creativity, you will be able to keep up your workout routine over break.
Don't abandon your good habits
Undergraduate life does not come with many luxuries. While on campus, walking becomes a necessary evil for many. Just because you are headed somewhere for break where you will have unlimited access to a car does not mean you have to use it. Believe it or not, walking is still an option! Think of running an errand for your parents as a chance to fit in a workout. Walk or jog to the post office or grocery store. Bring a friend, a parent, or the family pet along to make it more fun. Every step counts toward your accumulation of daily activity.
Get out and enjoy the season
Winter activities offer a great way to combine exercise with loads of fun! Look up your local ice skating rink or ski resort and explore their options - skating, skiing (downhill and cross country), snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Not only will you have a great time, but you'll also burn a surprising amount of calories (downhill skiing expends roughly 350-450 calories per hour, depending on intensity). The only downside to this option is cost; resorts are often pricey. So if money is an issue, consider sledding. All you need is a snowy hill and a $5 plastic sled. Though you won't expend many calories zooming down the hill, the walk back to the top will certainly count.
Dust off those old workout videos
You know the ones I am talking about: Jane Fonda and friends decked out in leotards with bad '80s music playing in the background. These videos have been sitting on your family's shelf collecting dust for as long as you can remember. Try them out! These tapes offer a cheap and effective workout and all you need is a television (leotards are optional!). The hair may have changed, but the principles of exercise have not.
Check out your local fitness center
While it may not be as familiar as Tufts' facilities, your hometown is likely equipped with some type of fitness center. And although it might be too expensive to sign up for the whole month, almost every facility will offer some type of promotional pass to potential customers. Take advantage of these free trial passes while you're home! After the trial period has expired, see if short-term (day or week) passes are available for the remainder of your break. After all, you really only need a gym two days per week. The rest of the week, rough it. Cardiovascular activities can be done almost anywhere.
While winter break provides a much needed vacation from classes and homework - you don't need to take time off from physical activity! Use some of your newfound free time to explore new interests and expand upon old ones. Who knows, you may return to Tufts more fit than when you left.
Mary Kennedy is a graduate student in Nutrition Communication at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has a BS in Clinical Exercise Physiology from Boston University and is certified as a Health and Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine.
