Oh, summer. It’s a pretty magical season where we live, and it tends to fly by as well. Even with the sun rising at 5:15 and setting around 9 (or something close to that.) It makes me feel better, and it’s the perfect time to mix up where, when, and how I break a sweat.
I guess I call it the Summer Refresh. Think: A season where you just mix up your workout schedules and actual workouts to maximize your time in the outdoors, and add to the natural endorphins these months dish up.
If you’re in a workout slump, I feel like having a seasonal reset helps so much. It’s like summer break from your usual routine, but without taking a break from moving and taking care of your body.
So here are a few things I do and recommend.
Parks, beaches, hills, and TRX’s are your new gyms. Having an outdoor “gym” is super freeing, forces you to be creative, and is flat-out invigorating. Yes even if it’s hot. Just wear a trucker hat, bring water, and think of it as your free sauna.
You don’t need much. One of my favorite workouts I do is at a school across from my son’s karate class and I simply sprint up and walk down this hill, then do 10 box jumps and 10 push-ups on a cement bench and repeat that cycle for 45 minutes straight. It’s a butt kicker.
‘Tis the season for a TRX – keep it in your car or bike and hook that beautiful contraption up anywhere (tree, pull-up bar, any tall sturdy thing) for a quick 20-30 minute session. (Workout ideas here.)
You don’t have to get super fancy, push-ups anywhere, squat jumps, walking lunges across the beach, or soccer fields, it all works. Have a kettlebell and some bands? That’s all you need. Put ’em in a backpack, pick a spot, and go. Have a backyard? Bring the dumbells and stuff out for the day. And don’t worry about looking weird, put some headphones in, zone out, and if anything you might motivate someone to get up and move too.
Keep it short and sweet, and feel free to repeat it daily. I’ll keep this part short and sweet, too. It’s a great time of year to do a quick 10-minute backyard yoga session in the morning, then maybe a 20-minute afternoon run, throw in 50 push-ups and some abs sometimes and consider yourself a champ that day. A few rounds of HIIT are your friend.
Get up and play. Damnit. If you have a kid it’s a great time to act like one. Even though I’ve done this my whole life, regardless of season. It’s a big perk of summer break. For instance, today I ran and jumped off the dock, swam to a ladder, climbed that ladder, and repeated it a dozen times, then later on we shot hoops, and also played catch. On the trip we just got back from we body surfed continually. Playing around and goofing around is good for us all. In so many ways.
Be flexible with your workout schedule. During the rest of the year, I am strick 45-60 minutes MWF lift, and Sat or Sunday is a kettlebell-only day. Tuesday is intervals or hill sprints and Thursday is a hike or long incline walk on a treadmill. Then one day is active rest. Summertime…I can not tell you now what I am doing tomorrow or the next day or quite remember what I did this week or last week (actually last week I just surfed a ton.) and guess what? I feel great and am still getting some lifts in here and there, and in a way am feeling so refreshed by the break in routine. There’s motivation in flexibility.
I guess hitting any personal goals and making strength gains can be kept for the winter when it’s dark at 4 and I don’t have many places to go other than our home gym to keep myself from going nuts.
Ohh and finally….
Enjoy the sweat, fresh air, and views. Hiking, surfing, swimming, running, playing, and walking around new places… it all adds up in the best of ways. Enjoy it. Find a way to get stronger outside, and be sure to jump in the lake, ocean, river, or pool to cool off when you’re done.
Yay, summer. Thanks for the motivation to refresh.