How to Stay Motivated to Work Out During Canberra’s Cold Mornings

It's 5:30am and 6°C outside. Your alarm has just gone off to get you up for that morning workout you said you'd do. Let's be honest though, it's pretty tempting to hit snooze and roll back over.

The Canberra mornings are darker. The bed is warmer. And even the most well-intentioned plans to “get back into it” suddenly feel like a lot.

So if you’re finding it harder to stay consistent with your workouts as the Canberra cold sets in, I get it. This time of year, motivation dips for everyone - especially if you're just starting out, juggling family life, or otherwise trying to build a new habit.

But winter doesn’t have to mean starting over again in spring. With the right support (and a few smart tweaks), you can stay active, feel stronger, and boost your energy even when it’s frosty.

Why winter makes it so hard to stick to training

It’s not just you. Cold weather affects your body and your brain:

• Your energy naturally drops. Less sunlight = disrupted circadian rhythms = more fatigue.

• Your joints feel stiffer. Especially first thing in the morning, and especially as we age (I told one of my 64yr old clients that I always thought that was a myth as a kid and he assures me it is absolutely the truth!)

• Your mood can dip. Seasonal blues are real - and movement helps more than most people realise.

So what can you do?

5 ways to stay active when it’s cold in Canberra

Here are a few simple tricks our members swear by when the mornings get rough:

1. Set yourself up the night before

Lay out your clothes. Pack your water bottle. Pre-book your session. Future You will be so grateful when 5:30am rolls around and you don’t have to think.

2. Find a gym that doesn’t make you dread showing up

That’s where we come in. At our studio gym in Phillip, we’ve (a joint effort of myself and the amazing SXP members) created a warm, welcoming space where real people come to feel strong. No mirrors. No egos. No pressure. And most importantly, no need for performative fitness. You can leave the overpriced matching gym fits at home and just wear your warm, comfy trackies if that's what'll get you going!

3. Focus on how it feels, not how it looks

For many traditional gym goers who are aesthetic driven, working out in winter becomes more of a challenge because their underlying motivation for working out for their "beach bod" becomes more distant. At StrengthXP, we encourage leaving this mentality behind and focusing your attention on all of the other benefits that training will bring you. It’s about boosting energy, lifting mood, and staying mobile. Even a short session can clear your brain fog and ease your aches. Keep these benefits in mind, and it'll be that much easier to stick to a routine when it gets cold.

4. Train with other people — even in small groups

Community keeps you accountable when motivation drops. Our small group personal training sessions mean you get expert coaching and friendly faces without getting lost in the crowd. Plus, knowing that you've got a friend coming along to the class as well is a great way to make it more enjoyable and easier to show up.

5. Start with just twice a week

You don’t need to go all-in. Especially in winter, consistency is better than intensity. Two good sessions a week will keep your momentum going — and feel totally doable during the colder months when all you want to do is hibernate.

How we help you train through winter

At StrengthXP, we make it easy to stay active when the cold hits:

• Heated indoor space in the heart of Phillip

• Flexible session times to suit your schedule

• Supportive, inclusive vibe with coaches who meet you where you're at

• No mirrors, no yelling, no pressure — just smart programming and real encouragement

• Options for all fitness levels, from true beginners to those getting back on track after a break

Ready to feel stronger this winter?

You don’t need to push through alone. If you’re in Canberra and looking for a beginner-friendly gym in Phillip that understands the real challenges of winter motivation — we’ve got you.

👉 Just fill out our contact form and we’ll reach out to chat about how we can help.

Whether you’re starting for the first time or just trying to stay consistent through the colder months, we’ll help you build a winter routine that actually works — and feels good to stick with.

Let’s make this the winter you don’t fall off the wagon.