In response to short days and winter fatigue, almost half of Poles are trying to move more often.
In winter, our willingness to act decreases and we often feel overwhelmed. Less sunlight, the end-of-year atmosphere, and a greater need for calories can all contribute to a depressed mood. 41% of surveyed Poles try to increase physical activity during this period and treat it as a remedy for lower wellbeing in autumn and winter.
In a survey conducted for the MultiSport Programme at the Ariadna National Research Panel, 68% of working Poles admitted that they experience a decline in wellbeing in the fall and winter season. They see increasing their level of physical activity as one of the two main ways to deal with low mood, alongside proper sleep and rest.
– Physical activity practised every day makes us feel better and think more efficiently, reducing stress. How exercising changes what happens in our brain is described by Andreas Hansen in the book called The Mind-Body Method. He explains that after training, the level of cortisol (also called the stress hormone) drops and no longer rises as quickly. The brakes of the stress system – the hippocampus and the frontal lobe – are strengthened, better inhibiting the urges of the engine that drives anxiety: the amygdala. There is an increase in activity in the brain’s braking system associated with the GABA neurotransmitter, which has calming and soothing properties, thus helping to limit excessive stimulation of the nervous system that occurs in stressful situations – says Mateusz Majchrzak, cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, author of the book called “Sen w pracy zmianowej. Jak się wyspać i żyć lepiej?” [Sleep and shift work. How to get enough sleep and live better?], and MultiSport expert.
Winter is not that bad
The MultiSport Index 2025 survey shows that the most popular sports among active Poles are cycling, running, gym exercises and fitness classes. It shows that we are open to both outdoor and indoor activities. Does winter influence the sporting habits of Poles?
– It is worth remembering that sports facilities provide the opportunity to practise popular disciplines, often in interesting, new formulas, such as dynamic indoor cycling classes. This is an option for people who find it difficult to continue these forms of exercise as we enter the fall and winter season. The MultiSport Programme data also shows interest in wellness activities – sauna and salt cave sessions, Pilates Reformer classes, and massages using the Rolletic device – says Kinga Kołodziej, Customer Relations Director at Benefit Systems.
Winter also brings many new sporting opportunities. The MultiSport Index 2025 survey shows that practising various sports disciplines improves our wellbeing. Nearly 70% of us don’t want to limit ourselves to one activity, and one in three plans to try something new.
– In winter, MultiSport Programme users enjoy seasonal options, such as ice rinks available in larger towns or cable cars and ski passes in mountain resorts. People who want to better prepare for winter outdoor activities can train indoors and use a ski simulator or EMS, which is a training that stimulates muscles using low-intensity electrical impulses that accelerate metabolic processes and fat burning – explains Kinga Kołodziej.
If not in winter, then when?
– Sometimes I encounter patients who feel that their lives have become a “to-do list.” They complain about routine. Yes, in adult life we have a lot of things to do every day. However, if we don’t try to plan something new from time to time, how can we expect any excitement or new emotions to arise? Let’s also remember that breaking the routine and setting ourselves even small challenges forces the brain to adapt. It’s worth visiting new places, trying different hobbies, and simply making sure our brain is stimulated every day to prevent it from getting stuck. Regardless of the season – says Mateusz Majchrzak.
Winter activity can be a way to deal with low mood, as well as a chance to discover new versions of favourite activities or try something new. The key is to choose something that simply gives us pleasure – physically and emotionally. As it turns out, there are many easily accessible options.
Barbara Jastrzębska
Benefit Systems has been operating on the Polish market for over two decades and is one of the leaders in providing non-financial benefits that support employee wellbeing. The company is the creator of the MultiSport Programme, which enables physical activity in sports facilities throughout the country. Its portfolio also includes the MyBenefit cafeteria platform and the MultiLife wellbeing programme. For several years now, the company’s sports offer has been developed on foreign markets, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Turkey. The Benefit Systems Group also operates fitness clubs (in Poland it is responsible for Fabryka Formy, FitFabric, Fitness Academy, Good Luck, My Fitness Place, Saturn Fitness, StepONE, Total Fitness and Zdrofit networks). An important area of Benefit Systems activities is the promotion of an active lifestyle at every stage of life, which is why the company implements initiatives supporting physical activity of children, adults, and seniors, also as part of the MultiSport Foundation. Since 2018, Benefit Systems has been part of the global B Corp initiative, bringing together companies operating and engaging in solving the most important social problems. More information can be found at benefitsystems.pl/en.
