Spring is here, and it’s a great time to examine your fitness habits and routine. The changing seasons can be a powerful motivator to mix things up and start something new, especially in spring.
Spring represents new beginnings. It’s a good time to reset and get out of a rut. Everything around you is waking up, growing, and coming out of its winter slumber. There’s that fresh start feeling in the air. It’s hard not to feel that energy and the urge to make a change.
The longer days and warmer temperatures can make you feel more energetic and optimistic. Seeing everything grow around you can spark something inside of you to start self-improvement projects. Outside feels more appealing, and spring opens more opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, running, biking, and hiking. Sunlight and fresh air naturally improve your mood and increase your energy, making it easier to stay active once you start.
Spring sets the stage for you to refresh your fitness routine and set new goals. While spring itself won’t magically make changes in you happen, it certainly improves your mental state, making it much easier to get started.
Soaking Up Spring Motivation
While it’s great to feel motivated, it’s vital to translate it into action. Whether related to fitness, well-being, or organizing your surroundings, that energy needs direction, and setting goals and making plans will set you up for success.
Change takes time and effort. While motivation can get you started, it takes consistency to reach your goals. Spring can spark motivation to make changes to your health and fitness. However, overambitious goals can be demotivating, so starting small with one or two achievable goals can help build momentum toward your new habits.
It’s easier to work on losing 1 lb a week or walking a mile a day than to set a goal to lose 20 lb by summer or run a marathon this year. It’s more important to build consistency and work on your goals a little bit every day instead of sporadically putting in effort when you’re feeling motivated.
Transitioning Your Fitness Routine Outdoors
If you like walking, running, or cycling and have been sticking to your routine at home or the gym, it may be a simple matter of heading out the door. However, even the most disciplined exercisers may have to adjust their workout schedule.
First of all, you may not think about your exercise clothes that much when working out at home or the gym. Even though the weather is improving, you might have to wear layers for those early spring morning or evening workout sessions.
Spring weather typically brings rain and damp weather. Wet leaves, mud, or black ice can make outdoor surfaces slippery. Being aware of your footing could save you from an injury that forces you to stop exercising when you feel optimistic and motivated.
The cooler weather can trick you into thinking you’re not sweating as much. However, you are still losing fluids, so make sure you drink enough water before, during, and after your workouts to stay hydrated.
Unlike a climate-controlled environment, spring still has cooler days and unpredictable weather. So, check the weather before heading out the door and have a backup plan if bad weather rolls in. In cooler weather, muscles are prone to injury. Therefore, don’t skip a warm-up before heading out and a cool-down when done.
It’s surprising how taxing outdoor workouts can be. Please pay attention to your body and the signals that indicate you’re overexerting yourself. If you feel fatigue, chills, or overheating, slow down or take a day off to recover.
If you’ve been mostly indoors over the winter, start with shorter outdoor sessions and gradually increase your effort over time. Mixing outdoor and indoor workouts for a couple of weeks will help you adjust to the outdoors and reduce your risk of injury.
Why Exercise Outside?
Consistently exercising will increase your fitness level and provide other benefits. However, one study suggests that spending 30 minutes a week outdoors could reduce depression and high blood pressure. Additionally, being outside often makes workouts feel less like a chore and more like an experience.
Nature can improve your focus, creativity, and problem-solving skills. It helps you disconnect from screens and overstimulation and provides a much-needed break to reset. Just being outside can feel meditative, especially in parks, on trails, or by the lake or ocean.
Natural sunlight increases serotonin and vitamin D production, which are linked to lifting your mood and reducing stress. Nature has a calming effect that helps lower anxiety and mental fatigue. That means those lunchtime outdoor sessions can help you get through the rest of your day. Natural light can also help regulate your circadian clock, which can help improve the quality of your sleep.
Exercising outside instead of on the treadmill provides a change in scenery, which can help keep you mentally stimulated. It can break the boredom as each outside workout is unique. Hills, trails, beaches, and roads have built-in cross-training elements that can’t be simulated on an indoor bike or treadmill. Outdoor exercise can help activate other muscles due to uneven terrain, wind resistance, elevation changes, and dodging hazards. Furthermore, it may help maintain bone density because you’re on harder surfaces.
Outside doesn’t require a membership or a monthly fee. It’s free except for the cost of proper footwear, attire, or other equipment, depending on what activities you enjoy.
The Takeaway
Spring is the perfect time to mix up your winter routine and refresh your fitness habits. Longer days and warmer weather can naturally boost your energy and motivation, making it easier to get moving and try something new.
Exercising outside has mental and physical perks you won’t find indoors, such as sunlight to lift your mood and an environment to keep workouts interesting. With a bit of planning and a few simple adjustments, you can safely transition your routine outside, reap its benefits, and have fun.
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Disclaimer: No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
