April is Move More Month, and the objective is simple: get up and move more! But just hitting the gym for a workout every day can get boring, and while getting into a routine is nice, it can also start feeling repetitive. To switch up my own workout routine, I’ve been implementing some new activities to help me feel encouraged to move more. Read on for five ways to make your own workout more exciting!
Take a Hike
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has a bunch of parks and walking trails you can visit to hike and explore the outdoors. Whenever I don’t want to run or walk on the treadmill, I head over to and walk around both lakes. The flat trails make for a nice walk and beautiful views the entire time! Feeling more adventurous (and up for more of a drive)? , located about an hour from the University, has views of waterfalls and several different trails to hike. And if you’re looking to get off campus and explore with a group, the Barnes Center at The Arch’s regularly schedules hiking trips on the weekends during the spring and fall seasons. Be sure to visit the to learn more about the trips and register!
Try Out Headspace
Being a student at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ gives us a wide variety of benefits, one being our free premium memberships to . Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed about heading to the gym, I visit the Headspace app to explore their different Move options instead. Headspace’s Move content includes yoga, dance, cardio and more, and each exercise is meant to strengthen both your mental and physical well-being. If you’re interested in trying out a more mindful way of exercising, claim your and give it a try!
Attend a Zumba Class
The Barnes Center offers a wide variety of fitness classes for campus community members to attend, including Zumba. During the Spring 2023 semester, Zumba is offered every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening. According to an article published by , Zumba targets multiple different muscle groups at once to help with toning and helps you maintain a healthy heart rate. Zumba has a soundtrack and dance routine organized by the Zumba instructor before you arrive, so all you need to do to prep for a class is be ready to follow the instructor and dance! Not sold on Zumba being your thing? Check out the on the Barnes Center’s site to see what other fitness classes are available!
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Not motivated to spend time inside a gym to work out when the weather’s gorgeous outside? Then don’t! Spending time outside for an hour or two during the day can give your body and mind a break from being confined indoors for most of the day, and you can still use your time outside to get exercise. Do yoga, follow along with a workout video on YouTube, ride a bike, play a round of golf, or just go for a walk! Any number of fitness activities can be done outside just as well as inside a gym. As an added bonus, the Vitamin D you get from spending time in the sun helps strengthen your immune system and boosts your mood. All the more reason to head outside on a sunny day!
Treat Yourself After a Workout
When I really don’t want to go work out, I try to think of a small reward I can give myself to motivate me and make my day better. Typically, I tell myself that if I do 40-60 minutes of movement, whether that be a workout in the gym, going for a walk or a run, or just getting outside and moving, I’ll reward myself with something small, like an iced coffee or new fitness clothes. Pick something fun that’ll help motivate you!
There’s so many different ways to make working out more exciting. As the weather gets nicer, make sure to get outside and take care of yourself. Listen to your body, because it tells you what you need!
Written by Tessa Hodinger G’23, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications