By Mike Kubas
Now that summer has flown by with blistering heat and pace, it’s officially back to school time, which inevitably means you’ll most likely be getting back to some form of routine or returning to some structure. Whether you yourself are returning to school, or simply your children are, the school year months provide some needed structure when it comes to keeping to a fitness routine. While we’ll miss the free-wheeling nature of summer activities and plans, it sometimes comes at the expense of beneficial and healthy habits. Our fitness routines tend to get put on the backburner for large portions of summer, leaving the fall as a key spot to rebound strong and get reacquainted with our fitness passion. Here are some great ways to get back into the swing of things this fall:
1. Have Friends! – Find a workout buddy and bring a friend to the gym to get fit. Whether it’s a full-on gym newbie or a seasoned vet like yourself, having a workout buddy allows for needed socialization, new workout ideas, and added motivation!
2. Be Selfish! – By this I mean take an interest in an introspective or individual activity. Yoga and tai chi are both great ways to improve your mind, body, and spirit. Engaging in a new activity is a great way to add motivation and novelty to your fitness routine, while helping to improve both physical and mental health.
3. Set Goals! – Sit down and really think about what you want to get out of your fitness routine in the next few months and identify a clear concise goal or goals for yourself. Often we get lost just going through the motions with our fitness routines and lose sight of our purpose in the gym. Be sure to know what you’re working towards. Signing up for a competition or race down the line is a great way to get refocused.
4. Get a Head Start! – Get a head start on the holidays! I always like to enjoy myself and indulge around the holiday season, it’s a big reason why I try to be very consistent and dedicated in the fall months, when it comes my fitness and training. Working hard through the fall months and being in great shape going into the holidays allows for some guilt-free indulgence come Turkey Day! Be sure to start off your fall fitness in a great way and reap the benefits when the holidays come! Plus it allows you to start thinking about the holiday treats a bit earlier for extra motivation!
Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash