Spring is here!
If you’re anything like me, you’re enjoying watching the trees bud out, the warmer temperatures, and the longer evenings. This is the time of year when we think about new beginnings, refreshing, and resetting. I think the “urge” to start fresh might even be stronger than that of the new year.
There isn’t an area of our lives that can’t be impacted positively by a little spring cleaning. It’s not just about cleaning those hard-to-reach spaces and finally re-organizing the garage. Spring cleaning is about caring for and optimizing what you have. That could be our physical spaces and belongings, our time and schedules, or our own bodies.
Better weather and more sunlight only motivate me to get out and moving more. Last year, the spring season was thrown topsy-turvy by the U.S. arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Things were and continue to be strange. However, as we now know more about what to expect, we can focus on some real “deep cleaning” in our lives.
For me, this means spring cleaning my fitness routine and my nutritional habits!
How to Spring Clean Your Health & Fitness Routine
Clean out the fridge and the pantry.
Are Valentine’s chocolate and decadent holiday treats still taking up space in your pantry? Now is the time to get rid of temptation. Clean your pantry of most, if not all, guilty pleasures. The same goes for the refrigerator. It’s time to toss old leftovers, half-empty containers, and unhealthy products. This will give you greater clarity as to what you need to fill in nutritional gaps. It can also help you realize new dietary goals, such as eliminating sugar, red meats, or dairy.
While this is true “spring cleaning” as we know it, it also benefits your nutritional habits.
Find out what still fits.
Listen, I know 2020 was rough. We all put on some pandemic pounds from stress eating, lack of activity, or a combination of the two. I know you don’t want to go through your closet and see what doesn’t fit anymore. We all want to believe we still fit into our pre-pandemic clothes.
I mainly want you to focus on your workout clothes here. When you get ready to work out, your clothes should make you feel comfortable and confident. Old, sweat-stained, or ill-fitting clothes need to go. The same can be said for worn-out shoes. Treat yourself to some new workout gear as a means of motivating yourself to get excited about working out again.
Get a physical.
Unfortunately, a lot of adults avoid going to the doctor unless they feel sick or in pain. A physical, however, can help you gauge where you are and what you need to do to improve your health. You could discover high cholesterol or blood pressure, a disappointing weight gain, or other health concerns that demand your attention. When you know what you need to improve, not only does your progress become measurable, but you are better able to develop a strategy that makes a real impact on your health.
Make a new playlist.
Many people enjoy listening to music while they run and workout. Like new clothes, a new playlist can reinvigorate your drive and desire to get moving. Make a new workout playlist for spring and summer. You want to target music that you enjoy listening to and songs with a BPM that get you moving.
Try something new.
Maybe your routine has become monotonous. Your regular exercise routine makes you feel tired, drained, and uninspired. This isn’t to say that it’s not worth doing anymore — but there is something to be said for mixing things up once in a while. Spring is a great time to jump into a new fitness glass, try out new equipment, experiment with intensity, and change up your running route.
Get outside.
Take advantage of nice spring weather. Down here in the south, breezy, warm springs quickly give way to unbearable summers. Enjoy it while you can! The sun exposure, fresh air, and natural surroundings not only break up the drudgery of a dark gym, but they benefit our mental and emotional wellbeing, too. Just make sure you wear sunscreen!