It’s becoming that time of year when the weather’s getting colder, the warm beverages and food are more appealing, and all we want to do is snuggle up with some blankets and forget the word “exercise” even exists. As tempting as it is to fall into this mindset and not move your body during the wintertime, (especially in State College), there are fun ways to get you in the mood to exercise. One way is to have a great gym bag filled with everything you need to motivate yourself to stay active!

The first thing you need in your gym bag is quality workout clothing. This might seem obvious, but many people don’t understand the importance of this. Always put fit over fashion when it comes to workout clothes. Those skin tight workout pants that make your butt look great might not be the best option when you have to do those low squats and you end up ripping them. Feel comfortable and make sure they fit right – you don’t want to be pulling and tugging at your clothes the entire workout.

The second thing you need in your gym bag is good shoes. Especially if you’re someone that does a decent amount of cardio at the gym, there is nothing more important than this. Having your feet cramp up, having blisters everywhere, and putting pressure where it shouldn’t be are not things you want to deal with when you’re already out of breath and sweating a ton. Put in the time and money to buy quality gym shoes that will last you a while and won’t cause discomfort.

The third thing you need in your gym bag is a water bottle. Hydrating before, during, and after your workout is crucial for maintaining your energy levels and your overall health. And I doubt that you’ll want to be that person that has to leave for the water fountain every five minutes – you’ll want to have your water bottle by your side at all times.

The fourth thing you need in your gym bag is any device that plays music with headphones (usually your smartphone or iPod). I know that I’m someone that can’t stand working out without music. The right music inspires me to keep going, and typically gives me a great beat to follow while doing cardio. And let’s be honest, the music that they play at the gym typically isn’t the greatest workout music, so you’ll want to have your own choices by your side.

The fifth thing you need in your gym bag is a towel. Even if you’re someone that doesn’t sweat a lot, you’ll want a towel to wipe down your machine after using it, and the back of your neck gets way sweatier than you think it does…trust me.

With the right stuff in your gym bag, (especially if you buy them in your favorite colors and patterns), you should stay motivated to exercise throughout the winter months, no matter how snowy it gets!