Winter has a way of rearranging the best intentions, and this year it did so with quiet confidence. The cold settled in, the mornings darkened, and suddenly the routine that felt solid in autumn began to slide around like it was on black ice. A lingering almost‑cold hovered, birthday month arrived with its usual distractions, and the budget tightened just enough to make every session count. What followed wasn’t a collapse, but a noticeable winter wobble — a season of doing what I could, when I could, and accepting that sometimes the weather wins the round.
Winter arrived with that particular Auckland attitude — damp, sharp, and slightly offended — and my routine responded exactly as expected. One 30‑minute shuffle bravely completed, a couple of RPMs squeezed in, and Pilates holding the line like the last dependable soldier in a frost‑bitten battalion. Everything else has slipped, slumped, or politely excused itself.
The cold snap didn’t help. Nor did the lingering almost‑cold that refuses to fully commit, hovering just enough to make breathing feel like a negotiation. And somewhere in the middle of all that, the earache after swimming made the pool an “option to be reviewed in better weather.” In fact, that’s exactly when the cold started brewing — the moment I stepped out of the water and winter tapped me on the shoulder.
Even walking took a hit. Morning walks were cut down to the bare minimum — just the after‑school pick‑up loop — because yes, I know it’s not real cold compared to the South Island, but Auckland is sub‑tropical and anything below ten degrees is basically arctic. No, we didn’t have to cope with snow, so skiing wasn’t an option either. Just the kind of cold that gets into your bones and politely ruins your plans.
And then there was the shuffle. Yes, I made it into the gym and onto the treadmill, but it wasn’t pretty and it certainly wasn’t glamorous. My 30‑minute non‑stop… well, we can’t even call it a jog, because it’s slower than walking. But with restricted breathing and a body that hasn’t run in months, non‑stop was the goal, so let’s call it what it was: a shuffle. A determined, slightly wheezy shuffle. First attempt at anything resembling a run/jog in ages, and honestly, I was thrilled to discover that Couch to 5K doesn’t need to start from the beginning. It just needs me to pick up the pace — and that will come with consistency, which has been definitely lacking. Bring on spring and warmer weather.
Meanwhile, that 6‑classes‑in‑2‑weeks Pilates pass is sitting there like a polite reminder that next month will require some strategic planning. It will need to be used — carefully, deliberately — once the weather stops biting and the cold finally gives up its grip.
With the budget tight, everything is being rationed: one or two sessions a week, stretched as far as they can go, like winter pantry staples. It’s not glamorous, but it’s honest. And in this season, honest counts.
The pipis are doing what they can in sub‑optimal conditions, and I’m calling that a win. Winter chills or not, the routine isn’t gone — it’s just hibernating lightly until the sun remembers its job.
Until then, if you’re exercising, remember: it’s easy to keep warm when you’re working hard.
You are the star of your own story — may the force stay with you 🐘
