Building Mental Resilience This Autumn in Amsterdam: Calisthenics, Cold Dips, and Acceptance

If you’ve been feeling a little low lately, you’re not alone.

It’s that time of year again, the clocks have changed, the air’s crisp, and the days are getting shorter… way shorter. You wake up, it’s dark. You leave work, it’s dark again. The sun seems like that one friend who says, “Let’s catch up soon,” and then disappears for three months.

And around this time every year, you start hearing the same thing from people, “I just feel tired,” “I’m not motivated,” “My mood’s off.”
Honestly, I get it. November in Amsterdam can be a bit heavy. But this year, I’ve been approaching it differently and it’s made a huge difference.

The Cold and the Darkness Aren’t the Enemy

Here’s what I realized: low mood can come from resisting the season.

You know, wishing it wasn’t cold, dreading the dark mornings, complaining that summer went by too fast (it always does). But when you fight the season, you end up fighting yourself.

This year, I decided to do the opposite. I accepted it.

It’s cold, okay, cool. It’s dark, that’s fine too. The energy’s lower, fair enough. Once you stop resisting, you can actually start to enjoy what’s around you. Because honestly, autumn in Amsterdam is beautiful: the leaves turn gold, the air’s fresh, and the city feels calm.

Acceptance is the first step toward resilience.

Calisthenics Is Medicine

One thing that’s really helped me stay balanced is calisthenics training in Amsterdam.
When you move your body, even when it’s cold, you’re literally giving your brain the chemistry it needs to feel better. The blood flows, the endorphins hit, and you finish feeling completely different from how you started.

And the cool thing? You don’t need to spend hours at it. Even a short 30-minute bodyweight session can lift your mood and reset your headspace. Reconnecting you with your body when your mind starts to drift into that November fog.

Why Showing Up Builds Mental Fitness (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

This is something I see with some students.
A few of them have told me, “Sometimes when I come to training after work, I feel a bit low, a bit tired, like I just want to go home.”
But then they remember what I always say: “Just show up.”

Because once they’re here, surrounded by the group, moving their bodies, doing calisthenics in Amsterdam, everything changes. You see it in their faces after the session. The energy’s different. They always say, “I’m so glad I came, I feel so much better now.”

And that’s the key. It’s not about being motivated every day, it’s about showing up, especially on the days you don’t feel like it. Those are the sessions that really matter. Those are the ones that shift your mood, reset your mind, and remind you what you’re capable of.

Cold Dips: My Weekly Therapy Session

Now, let me tell you about the cold dips.
Every week, a couple of friends and I head to the canals for a cold plunge. Yes, the actual cold Amsterdam canals. It’s tough, I won’t lie, but it’s one of the best things I’ve ever added to my routine.

The first few seconds are brutal. Your brain screams, “Get out!”
But then, something shifts. You breathe, you settle, and suddenly you feel alive. It’s like your whole body wakes up. And afterwards, the feeling is unmatched, calm, sharp, and surprisingly joyful.

We joke around while we’re doing it, we hold each other accountable, and somehow, we actually look forward to it now. That shared discomfort, pushing through together, builds a quiet strength that lasts all week.

Why It Works

Here’s the science behind it:
When you expose yourself to challenge, whether through calisthenics or cold, your body adapts. Your nervous system learns, “Okay, this is tough, but I can handle it.” That’s mental resiliency in action.

And the more often you do it, calisthenics sessions, cold dips, or just showing up when you don’t feel like it, the stronger that mental muscle becomes.

Soon, the cold doesn’t bother you as much.
The darkness doesn’t drain you.
You just… adapt.

Turning Autumn Into Your Training Ground

Instead of dreading these months, I’ve started seeing them as the perfect training ground, not just for the body, but for the mind.

It’s a chance to slow down, to build strength from a different kind of challenge. The kind that doesn’t come from pushing heavier weights, but from showing up when it’s cold, when it’s dark, when you’d rather stay inside.

And when you come out the other side, stronger, calmer, and proud that you didn’t quit, that’s real progress.

Final Thoughts

If you’re feeling the November blues, I get it, it’s natural. But don’t fight it.
Accept the season, move your body with calisthenics, get some fresh air, and if you’re feeling brave, jump into a canal.

You’ll be surprised how much lighter you feel when you stop running from the cold and start dancing with it.

Ready to Build Your Own Mental Resilience This Autumn?

At Famba Fitness, we’re all about building both physical and mental strength.

Join our group personal training sessions or personal training in Amsterdam West, and let’s use this season to get stronger together, inside and out.

👉 Register your interest here to start your autumn training journey at our calisthenics gym in Amsterdam, with both outdoor and indoor calisthenics lessons.

Enjoy the journey,

Solly

Calisthenics in Amsterdam

Personal Trainer in Amsterdam West