To be completely honest, I’ve never met anyone under the age of 35 who has stated that they’re doing their ‘spring cleaning.
Furthermore, this term is usually used in reference to your home or your car. However, we’re sure that there’s one thing you will want to revamp this spring, and that’s your fitness routine.
As we’ve all heard before, there’s no need to wait until the New Year to set out new resolutions. Plus, since it’s been around 9 months now since we made those New Year’s resolution, there’s a good chance we’ve since abandoned them.
I know I for one, only took 4 days before I started eating chocolate again. Similarly, I don’t think I did one week were I worked out for at least 1 hour each day.
Ambitious, I know. That’s the problem with making resolutions only once a year – we often lose them, and they often stop being relevant.
So, it’s the first day of spring, and that means the first day of a new routine for you. Use our tips below, and hopefully this one will continue on long beyond Christmas day.
1. Set up a schedule, but let’s be realistic
You’ve definitely heard this tip before, but research shows that up to 65% of workout schedules are broken in the first month. And as we’ve said above, no matter how ambitious, you’re not going to work out for 1 hour, every day, of every week.
This time, try to plan ahead by looking back. Calculate on average how many hours a week you workout for, and try to increase this by at maximum 20% each month.
This way you won’t be suddenly swamped, and if you can workout for 4 hours, why can’t you workout for 4 ½?
Trying to schedule workouts to the precise day and time will also help, but don’t make it too stringent.
Try to make that Thursday lunchtime gym session easy week, but if one week you can, make sure you’ve got a backup time on Friday that you can do instead.
Make it a ‘mandatory minimum hours’ schedule, rather than a ‘these exact 5 hours’ schedule, and you’ll be far more likely to stick to it.
2. Team up with friends!
You’re far more likely to stick to this new routine if you’re doing it with friends. Find out how many people you know who go to the same gym as you, and go with them.
Similarly, grab your housemates or those that live near you and find a local park so it’s easy to make sure you’re working out often. As soon as people are relying on you, you’re far more likely to attend.
So lock it in, and even if you both don’t want to go, you’ll be too chicken to admit it to the other, and you’ll soon both be sweating it out anyway.
Another great way to get in some hours, is to change the way you catch up with people. If someone asks to grab a coffee or lunch, change it to a squash game, or an oval session, or even just a walk in your office gear. Coffee is so boring, and far less memorable that a good hike.
3. Create a stretching routine, and stick to it
Just as important as it is to create a workout routine, you should also create a stretching one. As summer rolls around, you’re more likely to damage your muscles if you swear and strain yourself without stretching out afterwards. Be realistic here, too.
You’re not going to stretch for 20 minutes after each session, but you can stretch 5 minutes during each shower (if you don’t mind doing some weird naked poses).
Side note: remember you can hurt yourself if you try to stretch with cold muscles (hence the shower suggestion above).
Whilst normally with routines it’s great to try and do it every day as soon as you get up, don’t do it in these cold spring mornings. Go for a quick jog first, do 30 jump squats, or have a warm shower first.
4. Stay hydrated
Obviously as the weather warms up, it’s important to drink more, but not staying hydrated can actually make your workouts much, much harder.
Stitches and muscle pains have been proven to be far more likely when you’re dehydrated, so make sure to pack a water bottle with you.
Yes, it’s likely you don’t want to be that person carrying a water bottle everywhere with you like a newborn, but you’ll be the one laughing during your workout later on.
5. Get sporty
If you’re trying to increase the number of hours you spend actively working out this spring, the easiest way to do so is to play sport.
You won’t even notice how much you’re sweating when your competitive nature comes out, and you’ll be having too much fun to notice how hard you’re working.
Pick up a squash racquet or join a lunchtime sports team. If you play one game and have a long training session each week, that’s already two extra hours, and they’re fun ones at that.
6. Add in some weights
For those of you who continue to impress me who are still sticking to the routine you set out months ago, it might be time to shake it up.
If you’re finding your squats, pushups or lunges too easy, then add some weight.
If you can’t source weights (or are just too stingy to buy them – which is fair!) then increase the intensity of what you’re doing. Add some hill sprints in, or simply use big books or sacks of potatoes as substitutes for weights.
As the spring days stretch out a little longer, take advantage of the sunlight and nice temperatures and up your game.