Fall can be a new and exciting beginning for everyone. Whether you’re in school or in the workforce, a change in the season is usually followed by new classes or new responsibilities, making it hard to keep up with a workout regimen. Even with the changes and excitement, it’s important to stay on track and continue working towards a healthy lifestyle. To help you stay motivated, here are a few tips to transition from summer right into fall training.
1. Regroup, Refocus and Set Goals
If you’re an avid exerciser, it’s important to refocus when seasons change. Recognize and appreciate what you’ve achieved during the summer and get ready to aim for new heights this fall.
If you fell off of the wagon and got caught up in the hot dogs and sno-cones of summer, don’t dwell on it. Use the season change as a chance to start fresh. Find out what it is that you want to achieve — weight loss, workout personal records (PRs), or weight management — and make a realistic plan for how to make those desires become your reality.
2. Make it mandatory
Next, you have to make sure you’re putting physical work into your goals. Make them mandatory. Making exercise a regular part of your daily routine will help your overall mood, attentiveness and physical well-being — all important tools for making sure you become the embodiment of black excellence that you were meant to be.
There are countless studies on how exercise not only provides physical benefits, but mental benefits as well. In particular, African-Americans tend to be at a higher risk for health issues like diabetes and heart disease, so it’s imperative that we focus on our health at a young age.
3. Get an Accountability Partner
It’s harder to skip your daily run when your friend, sister or significant other knows you should be hitting the trail instead of hitting happy hour. Talk to someone you trust to help you stay on track and be open to sharing your goals and progress as you work toward your healthy lifestyle.
Having a good friend alongside you during your health journey can be a really fun way to connect and stay motivated through some difficult workouts. Find someone willing to join you during a few runs and workouts.
4. Stay Fresh — Buy Yourself New Gear
No, material things are not everything (and never should be), but there’s something special about getting new workout gear. Whether it’s something as simple as a new water bottle or as extravagant as exercise equipment, buying yourself something new will be an extra incentive for you to get started on living a healthier lifestyle.
5. Enter a Race or Competition. Challenge Yourself!
As a runner, I’m always anxious for autumn because there are too many races to count. With temperatures down, fall is the perfect time to search for running, biking and other outdoor competitions.
Even if outdoor activities aren’t your forté, finding a way to challenge yourself and show off all of the progress you’ve made is a great way to keep the momentum going. Not to mention, many athletic events offer monetary prizes, medals and drinks afterwards. It’s an all-around win.
