4 Outdoor Exercises for Spring 2021

After all the gloomy winter months of quarantine and lockdown, better weather is finally on the way and with that, more time to spend outside. As the world is reborn, maybe you feel like it is time for you to get in shape again as well.
Of course, it is easier said than done. I feel like I might not be the only one who doesn’t enjoy simply working out as much. If you feel the same way, don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities to move your body and enjoy it too! If you follow some of these tips, you can get in shape by simply enjoying yourself outside and you might won't even notice.

How to get started?
Building exercise into your routine might seem intimidating at first, but never worry, all the tips below have one thing in common: you need to start small. Whatever small means to you. Maybe it’s just going out for a walk or running a few miles right off the bat, it totally depends on you and what you feel up to. The key is that the first step shouldn’t feel like a huge challenge, it is enough if you put in a little extra effort. The new habits you are building will stick with you much longer if you take it easy at the beginning and gradually build up to the level you want to achieve.
Now let’s move on to the actual tips! But keep in mind… be easy on yourself at the beginning!

1. Go on bike rides
Biking is an easy way to move your body and takes much less effort than running. You don’t have to have a whole day set aside for this activity either. Even if you go on a ten minute ride during your lunch break, you will feel energized and productive after it. You don’t even need a destination, just pick a route, play your favorite music and get on the road.

Progress
In the long run, ten minutes a day might not cut it for you. If your body gets used to exercising that way, your daily bike rides might not feel enough for you after a while. And the routes around your home might start to get boring.
If you ever feel any of these happening to you, it is time to switch it up! Clear a day and go on an adventure! There are many places where you can easily get around by bike that are worth seeing. You can make the entire journey by bike or travel to your starting location by car or – if you don’t have one – train.

Frequent excuses

• I don’t have a bike
  It is totally acceptable if you don’t to buy a bicycle just to try out this way of exercise, but I would still encourage you to give this experience a chance. If you have the time, dedicate a day every few week to rent a bike and have a little trip somewhere to see if you like biking.
• I live in a city
  Don’t worry if you live in a busy city! There are still plenty of opportunities to move around by bike. Try to plan your route around the less crowded, smaller streets and wear a helmet to feel safer moving around the cars. Maybe choose the nearest park as your destination. I would definitely give biking a try even if the streets around your home are busy. Who knows, you might find there are more opportunities to get around by bike than you’ve previously imagined.

2. Go hiking
Hikes are one of the most enjoyable ways of moving your body. Though this type of exercise requires more planning ahead, if you manage to find a free afternoon on a nice day, a hike is the perfect way to spend it.
When hiking you are not only moving your body and getting some fresh air, it can be a social program where you can meet up with your friends without having to worry about being in a closed space together, while also discovering beautiful new places. There are plenty of hiking trails to choose from. They vary both in difficulty, length and location but one thing is sure: anyone can find a trail that is right for them.

Set challenges
Maybe you’ve never tried hiking before and need a little extra motivation to get into it. Don’t worry there are a few tricks you could use. One of them is setting fun challenges for you. They might be ones you can do alone (visiting all the castles in my area, walking a certain amount of miles every month) or ones you can do with your friends even as a little competition if you enjoy that. These quests can be as simple as who sees the most animals during the hike or more complex ones like who can take the most unique photograph.

3. Make use of the outdoor fitness parks
Now, this one might not be for everyone, but if you had enough of the at home work outs where you hit your head into your sofa after every sit up and miss the gyms, this could be a great middle ground. It can seem daunting and intimidating at first, since you have to exercise in a public place, but once you get the hand of it, you won’t even notice that there are other people around and I promise you they won’t care what you are doing.

No beginning is easy
Maybe this option has intrigued you, but you’ve never tried out outdoor fitness parks before. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• check what equipment your nearest outdoor fitness park have and come up with your fitness plan in advance
• don’t worry if you don’t know how to use an equipment, if there’s anyone there, don’t be afraid to ask them, they will probably be more than happy to help
• do as much at first as you are comfortable with
• and don’t forget, the more often you do it, the easier it will get

4. Other activities in parks
If you are so lucky to have a bigger park near your home, you have the perfect opportunity to build more exercise into your daily life. No, I’m not talking about going on a walk or a run. There are much more creative ways to spend your time outside.

• Play frisbee. This is a fun game to play with your dog or your friends. Don’t worry if you aren’t great at it at first, I promise it’s easy to get the hang of it. And all the running after the frisbee is a great way to get some exercise in after a long day.
• Do yoga. I know this might feel weird, but it’s 2021, nothing is weird anymore and doing yoga exercises out in the fresh air is something else.
• Play volleyball. You can do this one with as many friends as you van gather or even alone. There are many ways you can utilize a volleyball, so you can also be a little creative while moving your body.
• Play badminton. You want to catch up with a friend and get your daily jumping around in? Pick up a badminton set and head to the park! You won’t even realize how much running around you did while playing the game.
• Learn gymnast tricks. If you can find a larger grass-covered area, it is your stage. It doesn’t matter if you try to perfect something simpler like a cartwheel or a more complicated move, you will definitely have fun.

I hope after reading this post moving your body regularly might seem a little less daunting. There are plenty of options, you just have to experiment and find what works for you. I am rooting for you to have so much fun with these spring fitness plans.

If you have any other good tips to stay active this spring, please, share it with us in the comments!