Now that time has fallen back an hour, you may long for those precious hours of sunlight in the late afternoon/early evening. Many people who used to go for a quick walk or jog after work may have to shake up workout routines. 

For those juggling a career, family life and social commitments, you may have no choice but to run in the dark, join a gym or shift your exercise to the early morning hours to keep up a consistent level of training in the winter months.

During the day, Hillary Jackson Ward, R.N., works at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford with the nurse residency program for the hospital. After work hours, she is an avid runner. This year, Hillary won first place in the female 35–39 age division at Murfreesboro’s annual Middle Half Marathon. 

“Running outside has always been my favorite way to relieve stress and stay in shape,” Ward said. “During the winter months, it’s important to wear reflective clothing and stay in well-lit areas to remain seen by oncoming traffic when exercising outside at dusk or once the sun has gone down.”

Check out a few additional safety tips for adjusting your workout when there are fewer daylight hours:

- Schedule your workouts at the beginning of the week so you make it a priority just like your other appointments.

- If you plan to exercise in the morning, lay out your clothes the night before, and even put them by the bed if you need that extra visual reminder.

- Make a playlist of favorite music or download a new book and reserve it just for the time you are working out.

- Go to a running store to get fitted for the right shoes to prevent injury.

- If you don’t feel safe running in the dark, consider investing in a gym membership or a home workout device such as a treadmill or elliptical.