Make This Summer Your Season of Exercise
See how building exercise into your daily routines this summer can bring longer-term benefits to your overall wellbeing.
Feelings of confusion and unpredictability are circulating across the globe, and for this very reason it’s imperative that we focus on the present and look after our own wellbeing. We’ve touched on a few strategies for optimizing your performance at home, which include building your resilience through your mindset, nutrition, movement, and recovery.
Many have turned to exercise as a source of relief, and this positive outlet can do wonders for you in all aspects, even if it’s just a few minutes each day. People always attempt to prepare their beach bods for the summer, but now the goal of staying fit may not necessarily be about showing off. It’s now more about doing it simply because it strengthens your immune system while making you feel good, as it boosts the production of endorphins.
This summer could be a season of exercise – and can even continue long after.
Get in the zone
To get motivated, workout at home as you would if you were at your local gym or fitness class. Get dressed up, energize yourself with some pre-workout snacks or drinks, and get your body and mind in the zone. This means not skipping any steps you would normally do.
A Gala Bingo article on toning up emphasizes the importance of warming up even if you’re just at home. Stimulate your blood flow by doing simple leg raises while sitting down. Follow this up by rotating your hips, raising your arms, and doing lunges. Once you start to feel your heart pumping you can get on with your fitness routine, warmed up and in the zone.
Blast your favorite music
You likely already have a go-to workout playlist, whether it be the best of the 80s or upbeat pop tracks that get you up and moving. Holly Perkins, certified strength and conditioning specialist says that there is actually a scientific reason behind this.
Switching to more relaxing melodies post-workout will also decrease your blood pressure and regulate your heart rate. You may not be going out as much but that is no excuse not to listen to some great summer tunes.
Use your imagination
Is your pantry overflowing with canned goods and sacks of supplies? These could actually be used in place of dumbbells and kettlebells when placed in a bag. You can even do your own resistance training by tying old but sturdy garments to posts or pillars in your home and then using your body weight to pull yourself up. It pays to be creative as this way you won’t have any excuse not to exercise. All you have to do is look around your home for anything to support your workout. This adds a little challenge to keep things interesting.
Get others in on the plan
Working out at home need not be boring. While it may take some time for you to find your groove, once you have a combination of different workouts that you enjoy add these to your roster and rotate accordingly. This way, you’ll always have something to look forward to.
If you live with other people, try to get them in on your routine to help one another stay accountable. You can even reach out to your friends online through video conferencing apps like Zoom for a virtual workout party that makes you feel like you are in a private fitness class.
These tips are reminders that you can actually do more with much less. Let this summer of exercise be a wake-up call that wellbeing is holistic and looking after your wellness is as important as anything else.
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