Spring Into a Healthy Lifestyle: Tips to Help You Shape Up This Season

It’s tough to find the motivation to exercise during the wintertime. Despite the fact that many of us set goals to exercise more and to lose weight starting January 1, around 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-February. If that makes you feel discouraged, think of it this way: it means you aren’t the only one struggling. And it’s never too late to see your resolution through.

Now that it’s officially spring, there’s never been a better time to get moving. Less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day, but you can do your part to change how you look and feel. Here are just a few ways to embrace a more physically active lifestyle during this beautiful season.

• Dig in the Dirt: Gardening can be emotionally therapeutic -- and an incredible workout. Gardening is considered to be a moderate to strenuous form of exercise, just like walking or biking. You’ll increase your flexibility and improve your muscular strength… and burn some major calories. Planting, weeding, and digging can all help you burn anywhere from 130 to 200 calories. Just 30 minutes of gardening a few days a week can do wonders for your health. Plus, it’s a great way to experience the sights of the season first-hand.
• Bike Around the Block: Now that temperatures are rising, it’s a great time to get your bike out of storage and take a spin around the neighborhood. In 2016, approximately 12.4% of Americans cycled on a regular basis. Since studies have found that cycling is easier on the body than running, it’s actually considered to be better exercise. It’s also a good excuse to take in the scenery and immerse yourself in nature while you sweat.
• Declutter Your Condo: It’s time for a bit of spring cleaning -- and believe it or not, sprucing up your domicile can be an excellent way to squeeze in some exercise. Some data suggests that you could burn up to 250 calories per hour doing housework. If you turn on some music and really get into your chores, you won’t have to go to the gym and your home will be spic and span in no time.
• Bring the Outside In: Sometimes, allergy sufferers have a tough time working out during this season due to everything that’s in bloom. Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year, but you don’t have to go outside to exercise. By creating a home workout space with lots of natural light and even a few (non-allergenic) plants, you can feel more inspired to get moving without having to blow your nose every 10 seconds.

If you put your fitness goals on hold during the winter, now’s the time to embrace a more active lifestyle. No matter what kind of workout you enjoy, you’ll have a lot more energy, will sleep better at night, and will feel a lot more confident if you add exercise into your spring routine.