Renew and Refresh for Fall

I love the fall. It’s my favorite time of year, and no matter how old I get or how many years I’ve been out of school, the end of summer always gives me a feeling of heading back into the school year. Although the end of summer always feels a bit sad, fall brings with it a sense of renewal, and I’ve found it’s the perfect time to reinvent yourself and take steps to reassess and renew your life.

If you need to get back on track and set new fitness goals, these are some smart tactics to get yourself back on track.

1. Get Inspired to learn Something New

Fall is a great time to learn something new. Have you always wanted to learn a new dance, take up martial arts, or master the jump rope? Many new classes at gyms and community spaces get started in the fall, so look around and see if something intrigues you.

2. Exercise Early in the Day

Try to workout in the morning or during the day. With the time changing and the sun setting earlier, it can feel like it’s later in the day than it really is. This can make you more tired than usual. Getting into a routine of working out early will guarantee the workout gets done and still allows time in the afternoons and evening to relax.

3. Head to the Trails

Fall can be a great treat for our senses: the crisp air, apple picking, and pumpkin carving and a gorgeous canopy of fall foliage. These months are a great time to exercise outdoors and enjoy cooler temperatures. Walking, hiking and cycling are all awesome in the fall. Discover park trails and take in some new scenery whether you’re walking or biking, It doesn’t have to seem like exercise to be a great workout.

4. Turn Fall Chores into a Workout

Did you know that you can burn 350 -450 calories an hour by raking and bagging leaves? Raking leaves is a great way to get the heart pumping, and because you also do a lot of bending, lifting, twisting, and carrying, you can build a lot of strength. Turn outdoor chores into a game by setting small, achievable goals to help pass time and burn away fat.

5. Vary Your Activities

The change of seasons is the perfect time to change your workout routine. With a fresh regimen you will target different muscles and maximize results. You’ll also avoid an exercise plateau. If you’ve been focusing on cardio all summer, then add weight training to your routine.  Trying a variety of different activities and varying workouts will help keep a fresh spin on exercise and allow for confidence to build in a wide range of activities.

6. Be an Active TV Watcher

Most people get geared up for fall premieres of their favorite television shows. If you’re going to sit down and watch hours of TV, get ready to move as you view.  Walk or run in place, do standing lunges, do tricep dips off the couch or lift weights while taking in your favorite shows. Or take a workout break during commercials, doing push-ups or sit-ups. In a one-hour show, you probably have close to 20 minutes worth of commercial interruptions.

7. Rejuvenate yourself

Fall is the time to rejuvenate body, mind and spirits. Get a massage after your run. Learn to mediate. Take an art class. Treat yourself not only with exercise, but other activities that promote wellness so you feel good physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.