If you find it hard to stay motivated to move in winter, you’re not alone. The low temperatures, icy conditions, and short daylight hours combine to derail many a New Year’s resolution or fitness program for folks living in colder climates, especially among those that prefer outdoor activities to indoor substitutes. But you don’t have to resign yourself to the treadmill or wait until spring comes to resume your active lifestyle; just try these tips instead:

Check the weather forecast for the duration of your activity and prepare accordingly.

Although the weather is not likely to change much over the course of a 30-minute walk, you cannot say the same for an activity slated to last several hours or the whole day. Winter storms can brew quickly and unexpectedly, so keep your weather app fired up on your phone and check it frequently while you’re out.

Dress for the activity as well as the weather.

While layers are always a smart idea, the number and kind of layers needed for skiing or snowboarding are quite different from what’s needed for shoveling the driveway. For example, whereas you’d love having our Zanier HEAT-GTX Heated Ski Gloves for the former activities, our battery heated glove liners would be sufficient for the latter.

Similarly, you’ll require more layers and warming products if you’re planning to be a spectator rather than a participant, so consider packing a heated seat cushion if you’ll be spending lots of time sitting and watching.

Keep safety in mind at all times.

Whatever activity you choose to participate in, it’s important to keep safety uppermost in your mind. So, if you’re driving somewhere, make sure your vehicle’s emergency kit is well stocked. If you’re going hiking or skiing on little used trails, take a GPS device, your smartphone, and extra food and water with you. Try to use the buddy system for all outdoor activities, or at the very least, let someone know where you’re headed and when you plan to return—even if you’re just going for a run around your neighborhood. In addition, consider breaking up your activity into smaller chunks of time (for example, two 15-minute walks instead of one 30-minute walk) to limit exposure to the cold.

Don’t take unnecessary risks.

If the weather is particularly inclement or the temperatures are dangerously cold, it’s perfectly okay to stay indoors until things clear up. At that point, snuggling on the couch with your favorite CozyWinters electric throw would be preferable to risking life and limb for the sake of burning a few extra calories.

Staying active in the cold is doable when you pay attention to the weather forecast, make battery heated apparel from CozyWinters part of your layering system, and always keep safety in mind, so make this your mantra for the next few months!