The time is here for rekindling energy, revitalizing interests, and for starting something totally new. Get excited.
Really though, fall is a great time to start a fitness program, try a new activity, or discover a new hobby. Not only are you settling into your fall semester routine, but “you’re going to create good habits for the holiday season and the upcoming winter months,” says Justin Price, owner of The Biomechanics, a personal training and wellness coaching facility in San Diego, California.
Work it into your routine.
If you’re writing your senior thesis this semester, taking six classes, or volunteering your time on the e-board of multiple clubs life can get hectic downright chaotic. Getting sleep and having some semblance of a social life is likely much higher up on your list of priorities than working out.
One very simple way to get your heart pumping is walking the stairs as much as possible. This doesn’t mean you have to walk up five flights of stairs from the basement to your Spanish class on the 5th floor –try walking up the first few flights and taking the elevator from there. Feeling extra motivated? After class walk down and then back up the stairs to burn some extra calories.
Lift while you brush!
Another calorie-burning trick is to work out while you’re getting ready in the morning. Flex your abs while putting on makeup or work in some bicep curls while you’re brushing your teeth. In the course of a week you spend 28 minutes brushing your teeth, now you’ll also be spending an extra half hour exercising!
So now you’ve freed up a little time so you can catch up on your favorite fall TV shows (hello, Walking Dead) without feeling guilty about it. WebMD author Barbara Russi Sarnataro suggests, “While you watch, you can walk or run in place, do standing lunges, do tricep dips off the couch, or lift weights. During commercials, do push-ups or sit-ups. In a one-hour show, you probably have close to 20 minutes worth of commercial interruption.”
Enjoy the outdoors while you can.
While in some parts of the country like California and Florida you can reasonably enjoy the outdoor weather throughout the fall into winter, in many places it reaches cooler temperatures by Halloween.
Hiking, Cycling, and walking are all great activities. Google Earth has a feature to help you find nearby hiking and biking trails—just make sure to print the map unless you have the app on your phone.
If you’re near the water try canoeing or kayaking as these activities are a great total body workout and can be done solo or with a friend. Check out the NY Times Kayak and Canoeing Travel Guide for great places to paddle and a little inspiration to get out there.
Always have fun.
Let’s be honest, with all the stress and pressure from being in college, sometimes you just want to let loose. Don’t be afraid to be silly and race one of your friends to class, challenge someone to an arm wrestling contest, or have a pillow fight with your room mate. Having a stress outlet is an important part of keeping fit.
If you find yourself with a surplus of stress-free time, take it one step further and play impromptu team sports. WebMD has a list of recess favorites so don’t feel confined the traditional games you already know and love.
Staying in peak physical condition is beneficial to your studies, your mental health, and well… we all want to look good in our Halloween costumes. So get moving!
Written by Guest Blogger, Alycia Terry
