The days are lighter, the air is warmer, Spring is here and with it comes a fresh (and much needed!) surge of motivation. It’s easier to feel more energetic when the sun is shining and it’s still light in the early evening so, if you’ve been feeling in a slump this Winter, now is the time to Spring into fitness – however that looks for you.
It’s common to feel that your mood and energy levels are affected by outside factors such as the weather, which is why we often associate Winter with curling up on the sofa in front of the fire on an evening. Spring, however, brings us a sense of joy as the weather is getting warmer, and we feel we can do more with our evenings now that the days are getting longer. This understandably helps us to feel more motivated when it comes to keeping active and looking after ourselves.
Take a look below at some ways you can grab hold of this new-found Spring motivation and use it to your advantage.
Get outside
Now that the weather is getting warmer and dryer, why not take your workout outside and make the most of the long-awaited sunshine! Getting to the gym when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping can be just as hard as when the rain is pouring, as we don’t want to miss out on our daily dose of vitamin D. So, combining the two is the perfect solution. Getting outside for a run, walk or even a quick HIIT circuit in the garden all counts. The choice is yours.
Exercising outside in Spring when the weather is mild, and even a little on the chilly side, is great for keeping cool when your body warms up through physical activity. This could even mean you can run a little longer or complete another round of your circuit compared to in the Summer when the weather really heats up. (But be sure to still take some water with you to keep hydrated.)
Getting outside and being active have both been proven to be useful tools in maintaining positive mental health. So not only are you keeping your body healthy by getting out into nature, but also your mind – which is just as important.
Look after number 1
When we talk about ‘Springing into fitness’ we don’t just mean physically. We all know keeping active is important, but that doesn’t mean doing endless hours of something that doesn’t bring you joy. Choose an activity that you enjoy, and exercise won’t feel like just another job to tick off the list. This could be a brisk walk around a local park, popping to a friends house for a cuppa and a catch up or even some yoga or meditation in a quiet space. Fitness is not just what you can see, but how you feel, so take the time this Spring to prioritise yourself – you deserve it.
Set yourself achievable goals
Having a goal to reach provides some motivation when you really need a push and the satisfaction of achieving that goal can leave you feeling an immense sense of pride. However, it’s important to make sure the goals you set are within reach as aiming too high can leave you feeling deflated. Now don’t get us wrong, we’re not saying don’t be ambitious with your goals, but what we are saying is to remember that everyone is unique and has a different set of strengths and weaknesses – so be sure to take your strengths and weaknesses into consideration when setting your goals. For example, if you really want to run a marathon but have never put on a pair of running shoes in your life, chances are you aren’t going to get there as quickly as you might like, which could cause you to lose interest. Instead, start small and aim to run for 10 minutes to begin with before working your way up to a 5k, then 10k and so on. This can be applied to any mammoth goal you want to set yourself, so reach for the stars but don’t forget to use the clouds to help you on your way up.
Get the family involved
The only thing better than improving your physical and mental wellbeing is taking someone else on your journey with you! Having someone else there alongside you on your walks, fitness classes or swimming sessions can help keep you accountable, make exercise more fun and even boost your mood. And what’s even better, the benefits you reap will more than likely also be felt by your workout buddy – so you’ll both be helping each other keep active, healthy and happy.
We hope that you’re feeling all the positive vibes this Spring and remember that however you choose to stay active during this season is #yourchoice
