As summer drifts into fall and the weather cools, it can be easy to let your activity level drop. Lower temperatures and fewer daylight hours may seem like a deterrent to exercise, but fall is actually among the best times to take your exercise routine to a new level. Here’s how to make those new trainers or even that electric beach cruiser you’ve had your eye on work for you this fall.
How To Stay Fit This Fall
Though your swimming routine may no longer be an option, there are infinite ways to keep yourself fit. After all, prisoners have written workout books from jail. If you are reading this, you are almost certainly free, so there’s no excuse to stop working on yourself.
Broadly speaking, there are several different avenues of fitness that you should always try to address with your workouts. These are:
- Cardiovascular health
- Strength and power
- Balance and Flexibility
- Mental health
- Endurance
There are many ways to attend to each avenue of fitness, and some workouts can tackle multiple avenues at once. Depending on where you live, the weather may lend itself better to one or the other. While you don’t have to master everything, the more you can work on without overtaxing yourself, the better.
Daily Fitness Habits To Improve your Health
Everything you do affects your overall fitness level. By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you can significantly contribute to your health:
Try a Bicycle Commute
The fitness benefits of biking are well known. In fact, few activities rival the strength training and cardiovascular exercise of a bike ride through multiple terrain types. By biking to work, you are essentially telling your body that it needs to prepare itself to bike every day and still have the energy to work. The human body is incredibly adaptable, and you can usually get used to your new commute in a matter of days.
Do a Short Yoga Workout Every Day
Yoga can provide you with a slew of health benefits, from better sleep to better posture. While a full yoga session can be time-consuming and taxing, doing a few poses per day can keep your stabilizing muscles strengthened while keeping up your flexibility and mobility. This can be especially valuable if you work a seated desk job for long hours.
Head to the Park After Work
If you spend most of your time indoors, you may not realize how much you can gain from spending time outdoors. Often, even a brief walk in the park can restore your mental energy and give your legs the movement they need. If you feel ambitious, try taking on some hills before heading home. Doing this can be especially enjoyable in the fall as you watch the gradually changing fall foliage.
With the colors of fall around you, the months between summer and winter can be among the best of all for outdoor fitness. Even if you aren’t the type to plan a workout every day, at least take the kids and their comfort bikes on the weekend and spend some time outside.