Changes in Weather Change Your Activity Level
Spring is in the air, meaning more than just blooming flowers and chirping birds. It’s a natural nudge to shake off the winter blues and be more active. Research that looked at the seasonality of physical activity proves this is true. Across various countries and populations, people are most active in the summer and less active in the winter.
Since your physical activity levels are likely starting to trend up, we are giving you a few fun ideas to try and some tips on how to navigate the change.
Embrace the Great Outdoors
Trade the treadmill for the trail: As the weather warms, escape the gym and head outside. Explore nature with hikes, bike rides, or even a walk or jog around the park. Soaking up the sunshine not only boosts your Vitamin D levels but also enhances your mood and motivation.
Turn your park into your playground: Public parks offer many fitness opportunities. Utilize the equipment for bodyweight exercises, join a pick-up game of basketball, play a round of disc golf, or find an outdoor fitness class.
Incorporate Seasonal Activities:
Get active with seasonal sports: Participating in spring sports leagues like volleyball, softball, pickleball or tennis is a fun and social way to get moving. You’ll meet new people while engaging in friendly competition and getting some exercise.
Cultivate your green thumb: Gardening is a surprising active hobby. Digging, planting, and tending to your garden provides a full-body workout while connecting you with nature. Plus, you can enjoy the beauty of the flowers you planted or the taste of a veggie you grew yourself!
Navigating the Changes
Spring clean your activity plan: Just like your home, your exercise routine might need a spring cleaning. Evaluate your current program, identify areas for improvement, and think about what new exercises or activities you’d like to add.
Don’t Spring forward too fast: Spring is an exciting time with longer days, better weather and new opportunities. Don’t take on too much, too fast. Injuries from overuse and overtraining become more common in our clinic when people ramp up activity too fast.
Celebrate your progress: Track your progress and acknowledge your achievements, no matter how small. This will keep you motivated and focused on your goals.
Spring is a season of growth:
Let it be the catalyst for your own personal transformation. By embracing the outdoors, incorporating seasonal activities and refreshing your routine, your can spring into action and experience the joy of a healthier and happier you.
We wish you a fresh and exciting start of spring! Remember we are always here if you have questions, or if you have aches and pains from too much too soon or weekend warrior injuries from spring sports.
