If you prefer your daily exercise to take place outside, winter can be a bummer. Instead of lacing up your shoes and heading out, you need to check the weather and bundle up before you can walk out the door. To make matters worse, the biting wind and frigid air in your lungs are far from comfortable. Despite this, you don’t have to let cold weather hold you back from your workout. While it takes a little more time and care, the right precautions can keep you safe and comfortable as you head on your walk, run, and other routines. Stay warm and safe with this overview of how to prepare yourself for a winter workout.

Don’t Skip the Warm-up

Warming up is important no matter what season it is. That said, pre-stretches and other warm-up routines become crucial in the cold weather. Take the time to stretch before you go anywhere. You should also add dynamic warm-up exercises—such as jumping jacks, squats, and lunges—to your routine. Repetitions of these exercises will get your blood flowing, warm your muscles, and increase your body temperature before you head outside. All of this reduces your risk of injuries. It also means you’ll be more comfortable when you take that first step out into the frigid winter day.

Be Smart With Layers

Layering is another essential part of how to prepare yourself for a winter workout. When you exercise in the cold, you need an outfit that will keep you both warm and dry. Be careful when choosing your outfit and watch out for common layering mistakes. You should always have a moisture-wicking base layer that helps keep your skin dry. On top of that, you can add an insulating middle layer to retain body heat, and a weatherproof outer layer to keep out any wind, snow, or other brutal winter weather. Layers also allow you to adjust to the temperature as you go. If you get too hot, you can easily take off your outer layer to cool down again.