You’ve decided that it’s time to get healthy by sticking to a summer fitness routine. While you have good intentions, it’s easy to lose your motivation and quit before the warm weather ends. With the right tools though, you can turn exercise into a permanent habit. Try these ideas to maintain your activity throughout the summer.
Summer is an ideal time to head outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery while your work out. Plan to exercise in the morning or early evening when it’s cool outside. Try outdoor yoga, run along a trail, or walk around the block.
Set Up a Home Gym
When the weather doesn’t cooperate, take your fitness routine indoors. Set up a particular room or space in your home for exercise. Pick a spot that’s large enough to move around. You can scratch rain, heat, and traffic off your list of workout excuses.
Make the room a comfortable, inviting space. In the sweltering summer months, you need a cold room to get a sweaty workout going. Make sure your air conditioner is in good working order. Schedule regular maintenance so the system won’t quit unexpectedly during the hottest days of the year.
Write Down Your Goals
Write down specific fitness goals. You may want to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, or feel better. One study showed that you’re 42 percent more likely to reach your goals if you write them down. When you don’t feel like working out, or your progress has slowed to a crawl, read through your goals to reenergize your motivation.
Start Small and Build
Break up your goals into small chunks that you can achieve in a short period. Let’s say you want to lose 15 pounds. Focus on losing two pounds each week. Reaching your weekly target will give you a reason to celebrate. You’ll want to keep working out to get to the next goal.
Also, if you are new to exercising, or getting back into fitness after a long break, ease into a routine. Don’t try to do an hour-long session your first day. Start with 15 to 20-minute periods and build up to longer workouts.
Keep It Interesting
Doing the same fitness routine each day for weeks can quickly lead to boredom that saps your motivation. Don’t stick to a single machine or group workout class. Banish stale sessions by creating a mix of fun workouts. Try a dance DVD one day and strength training the next. Use your home equipment like a treadmill or spin bike a few times a week too.
Recruit a Workout Buddy
A workout buddy can help you stay on track. Workouts are more fun together, and you can keep each other accountable. You may also feel a bit competitive and push yourself to work a harder to see results faster.
Try different fitness routines outside and indoors to keep up your exercise routine all summer long. Write down fitness goals and don’t forget to track your progress so you can celebrate your success.
Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
What helps me stick with my exercise routine is that I exercise in the morning before work everyday. That way I have no excuses at the end of the day to exercise or not! It is a great way to start my day!
What helps me stick with my exercise routine is that I exercise in the morning before work everyday. That way I have no excuses at the end of the day to exercise or not! It is a great way to start my day!