In the summer, people usually think about relaxing and taking a vacation. Working out and going to the gym aren’t necessarily motivating when it’s hot outside and you could be at the cottage or the beach instead. If you’re not feeling motivated to work out in the summer, there’s no need to feel guilty about it.
Stay active
During the winter, with its freezing temperatures and chilly weather, we spend more time indoors, which makes going to the gym feel pleasant and invigorating. In the summer, on the other hand, we naturally move around and spend more time outdoors. At that time, we’re more active without even realizing it, and we accumulate functional exercise more easily.
Nowadays, people may think that small tasks and other activities don’t count as exercise—that we have to go out of our way to work out before we can say we’ve been active. It’s time to throw that way of thinking in the trash once and for all! All activity counts, including playing with the kids, cleaning, and gardening.
If you have a smartwatch that tracks your activity, you can easily check your activity levels right on the watch. You might be surprised at how easily you can meet your activity goal just by going about your day. If your watch indicates that you’ve met your activity goal, there’s no need for a separate workout.
Quick workouts also work well in the summer. Try a quick workout while you’re heating up the sauna: turn on the sauna and work out while you wait. Use water buckets filled with weights, and do your recovery sets while adding wood to the firebox. You can find the three quick workouts we posted earlier this month on social media. Save the post and give the workouts a try.
Enjoy the summer and make the most of the warm weather. Go for a bike ride or a walk in town, go for a swim, and play on the beach with your kids or friends. Take advantage of even small opportunities to be active: take the stairs and walk short distances as part of your daily routine.
Tips and Ideas for Active Summer Activities
- Get some fresh air; go for a walk or a bike ride
- play various outdoor games, such as Mölkky or badminton
- Go to the park to kick a ball around or toss a Frisbee
- swim or run in the water in the lake
- dancing at a festival
- mow the lawn or chop firewood
- carry water from the lake to the sauna
- Go wash the rugs by hand at the rug-washing area