Cold weather and dark nights can make working out a chore. Here are some ways to keep exercise fun and stay motivated over the winter months.

1.   Make plans with a friend. It might be easy to cancel on yourself, but canceling on a friend is much more difficult. Set a time and date to exercise together. One option is Wicomico County Recreation & Parks’ Drop-In Pickleball, held inside at Salisbury Middle School. Drop-In Pickleball is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. within the following date ranges: Jan. 4-27, Feb. 3-17 and 24, and March 1-17. It’s $5 per person, per day.
2.   Commit to yourself. Don’t have a friend who is willing to make the commitment with you? Write a date and time in your planner or set an event in your phone and commit to yourself that you’ll go to an activity such as Drop-In Pickleball or do a workout at home. Set out your workout clothes and shoes or bring them with you to work.
3.   Work on your skills. Does your child want to work on her volleyball skills this winter? Wicomico Rec & Parks offers the Eastern Shore Elite Volleyball Academy Instructional Program on Wednesdays from Feb. 2-March 9 at Bennett Middle School. Registration is available through Feb. 1 and is $60 per player. Girls in grades K-5 will meet from 5 to 6 p.m. and girls in grades 6 through 12 will meet from 6 to 7 p.m.
4.   Explore a new park. While some days, of course, will be cold, there have been some nice days recently. Get out on a nice day or bundle up and explore a new-to-you park. With more than 50 parks and outdoor facilities in Wicomico County, there’s probably one you haven’t been to. A Toddler Sensory Hike for kids ages 3-6 and their families is set for Saturday, Jan. 15, at Leonard’s Mill Park. The hike begins at 10 a.m. It’s free to participate, but pre-registration is required. To register, email fjackson@wicomicocounty.org. 
5.   Go on a scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunts aren’t just for kids – although you can make it a family event if you wish. Keep yourself entertained during a walk around the neighborhood by making a list of things to find along the way before you head out.
6.   Track your progress. Whether you tried a new activity, visited a new location, or became more consistent with your workout sessions, write about your progress in a journal. You’ll want to have something to write about – and then you can also look back on how far you’ve come.

Learn more about our department and its programs and parks at WicomicoRecandParks.org. Follow us on social media at @funwicomico.

James Simmons is the Recreation Superintendent for Wicomico County’s Parks & Recreation Department.