Fall fitness reset

Changing seasons often call for changing up your routine. In the fall, the days start to get shorter, students go back to school, and routines from long summer days don’t work anymore. This is a great opportunity to reset your fitness routine for the fall! Let’s go over some tips to help you maximize your fall schedule. Then let’s explore three ways to make sure you reset for success.

Tips for scheduling workouts 

• Plan your workouts around other daily tasks. Attach your workouts to other activities you do daily. For example, if you eat lunch at the same time every day, try working out just before lunch. You can schedule around meals, breaks in the day or even something as routine as checking the mail. This can help you build a doable workout habit that already fits into your daily tasks.

• Do outdoor workouts earlier in the day. With the sun setting earlier each day, it gets harder to do outdoor evening workouts. Shift those workouts to lunchtime or turn them into morning workouts. 

• Bring some workouts indoors. If you’d rather keep your outdoor workouts at the same time, consider bringing them indoors. If you have a treadmill, for example, use it to walk indoors instead of outside in the cold or at night. Consider replacing outdoor workouts that require outdoor space or equipment with indoor workouts that target the same muscle groups. Here are more weatherproof indoor workout ideas.  

• Try short workout snacks instead of extended workout sessions. Five- to 15-minute exercise snacks add up throughout the day. To your body, three separate workout sessions of 10 minutes each are the same as one 30-minute session. Learn more about how to make the best of exercise snacks here.

• When working out outdoors, safety first! If you’re going to exercise outdoors after dark, wear reflective gear so that motorists can see you. If it’s cold, take appropriate precautions to stay warm. Layer up! Think about wearing gloves or protective face gear when it gets very cold. Don’t work out in severe weather or icy conditions.

3 tips to set yourself up for success

Now that you have the ingredients for a fantastic fall reset, let’s make it easier to follow. Try these three tips to keep you motivated and set you up for success.

• Set a weekly minimum. Life doesn’t always happen on schedule. Set a weekly minimum target for workout minutes or workout sessions. If it’s too hard to stick to your schedule, adjust your workout sessions so that you hit your minimum. For example, if you know your schedule is going to change one week, set a goal for 20 minutes a day, or three workouts this week.  

• Track streaks instead of perfection. Starting a new habit is challenging. It’s important to start positive and celebrate even the small wins. If you fall off track, it’s OK. Just get back on track and celebrate—give yourself credit when you keep it up for a while.

• Adjust your routine to make it work for you. If your first attempt at a new fitness routine doesn’t feel quite right, don’t give up! Make changes until it feels just right for you. Your fitness journey is unique to you. Make adjustments as the days grow shorter and your schedule changes.

As fall routines shift, it’s normal for your workout schedule to need a reset too. The good news is that the best fitness routine is one that fits your life. Use these tips and tools to stay motivated and active through the changing seasons.