It’s hard to believe, but around Charleston and Mount Pleasant, back-to-school bells are ringing again! With after-school activities, sports practices, study groups and more, your schedule is about to get all sorts of crazy! Unfortunately that can often mean that workouts get put on the back burner. But in a time of stress we all know that working out is SUPER important! So what are we to do?
Read on to get some tips on keeping up with your workouts during this hectic back-to-school season.
Back-to-School Tip #1: Plan Ahead
Schedule your workouts ahead of time. The experts at VeryWell.com advise, “Plan what you’ll do and gather what you need the night before. Pack your gym bag or put your exercise clothes next to the bed so you can put them on as soon as you get up.” The packed bag will be a visual reminder of you commitment to exercise and make it a lot easier to follow through with when the time comes to get moving.
Back-to-School Tip #2: Rise and Shine
Make plans a few times a week to get up an hour early to get your blood pumping. Getting your workout in before the day begins will ensure that you actually get it done. “If you plan to go after work, it’s a lot easier to tell yourself you had an especially exhausting day and throw in the towel,” explains Women’s Health Magazine.
(We recommend that you check out our MWF 6am and T/TH 6:30 group fitness classes!)
Back-to-School Tip #3: Seek a Community
As we have mentioned in previous blogs, finding a fun and supportive group to workout with not only makes exercising more fun, it helps keep you accountable. The Daily Burn recommends that you “Find a workout that makes you feel food and surround yourself with people that help build your confidence as much as your strength.” The added bonus is that you will be far less likely to cancel on a workout if you have people counting on you to be there with them.
Back-to-School Tip #4: Be Flexible
It will be tempting to go all gangbusters planning your new fitness routine (after all, there are margaritas, summer bbq’s and vacations to work off!). However over-planning can actually sabotage your new routine. It’s not an all-or-nothing scenario. Instead of planning an ambitiously rigorous schedule from the get-go, remember that there will inevitably be some hiccups as you get the first few weeks of school under your belt. But instead of throwing in the towel at the first complication in your schedule, cut yourself some slack. If you need a day off, take a day off. Take it from the people at The Mayo Clinic, “If you’re too busy to work out or simply don’t feel up to it, take a day or two off. Be gentle with yourself if you need a break. The important thing is to get back on track as soon as you can.”
Back-to-School Tip #5: Bring Food into the Equation
Incorporating some healthy diet changes can actually help you stay motivated at the gym. According to Health Magazine, “It’s not directly related to exercise, but paying closer attention to what you’re putting into your body can make you more aware of how you’re treating it, overall. (Keeping a food and fitness diary or using a calorie-tracking app can also remind you of how a few more minutes on the elliptical can help balance out that extra scoop of guacamole.) Plus, a 2013 Stanford University study found that people who adopt a diet and exercise program together are more likely to stick with both new habits than those who tackle an individual goal by itself.”
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