Happy New Year! The start of a new year causes a lot of people to look ahead, and make their resolutions for the year. I’ve never been one to make new year’s resolutions. If there’s something I feel I should or should not be doing, I usually don’t wait until January 1st to make those changes or adjustments.

However, the small heart attack my father had recently (he’s doing very well now, thank you) has cause me to think a bit about exercise — specifically in the winter.

When the weather is above 45-50 degrees (F) I love getting outside on a regular basis for some biking, hiking, kayaking, or even just walking around the neighborhood. While getting a good aerobic workout isn’t the main reason I engage in these activities, it’s a good side-benefit. I also generally feel better (mentally as well as physically) when I’m getting regular exercise.

I’m not sure if it’s the colder temperatures, the grey and gloominess winter can bring, or seasonal affective disorder which causes me to go into hibernation mode. But when the cold weather hits, the exercise for me pretty must stops. Over the past several years, I’ve always thought to myself I really should do something to change that, but so far it hasn’t happened.

Perhaps posting my intentions to get regular exercise in the winter might “move things along.” This isn’t a resolution (I don’t need that kind of pressure), just a public voicing of my objective to get that muscle in my chest pumping more in the winter.