10 Ways to Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine

It seems that Spring has finally decided to make an appearance this year – and I think it’s safe to say that we’ve been waiting for it for a while. After winter storms, freezing temperatures, and strong winds, Spring brings a very welcome change in pace. The extra sunshine, fresh colors and warmer temperatures often lead to a batch of new motivation. This extra motivation makes Spring the perfect time to start getting serious about your fitness routine!

With plenty of opportunities to head outdoors this season, Spring is often thought of as a time for a fresh start. Spring cleaning is one of my favorite ways to kick off all the dust from the winter, air things out, and prep them for a new season. While most people think of their homes when it comes to spring cleaning, another important tradition to start is to spring clean your fitness routine.

Workout routines can begin to feel mundane during the winter, when the weather forces us inside. Now that the temperatures are rising, it’s time to take a good hard look at your exercise routine, health and diet and see what can be improved. Spring is the perfect time to start a fitness challenge or set some new spring fitness goals. You’ll feel better and have more energy to take advantage of all this season has to offer. Here are some of my favorite ways to spring clean my fitness routine (plus a 10 Day Spring Fitness Challenge)!

10 Ways to Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine

Take your spring fitness outside.

There’s nothing like longer hours of daylight, fresh flowers and warmer temperatures to give you a burst of motivation. Take advantage of what spring has to offer by taking your fitness routine outdoors. Rather than running on the treadmill or riding the spin bike at the gym, take your runs outdoors or ride your bike around your neighborhood. Now is the perfect time to get back to those outdoor sports, and they are a great way to fit in some workouts while socializing. Play some tennis at local courts, basketball with friends, or ride your bike to work.

Related: 7 Ways to Bring Spring Running to the Next Level

Create a new workout playlist.

Take advantage of the extra motivation you feel from the weather and magnify it with some positive tunes. Create a playlist of songs that motivate you, inspire you, or just make you feel happy. Music is so powerful in changing our moods. Conquer your fitness goals while listening to songs that motivate you to keep going when it starts to get tough.

Sign up for a spring race or class.

There’s no better way to get new spring fitness ideas than by signing up for a group activity. Sign up for a race or new class at the gym to keep you motivated. These events help spread positive vibes when you surround yourself with like minded people, and may help you develop a new workout routine.

Create a new spring fitness habit.

The absolute best way to spring clean your fitness routine is to use this time to create a new habit. Take a minute to decide what your spring fitness goals are, and use these to create a new habit to help you achieve them. With the sun rising early, spring is a great time to wake up early and get your workouts in. Maybe creating a habit of working out in the morning before work will revitalize your routine. If you’ve set a goal to run a race, create a habit of going to bed early on Friday nights to feel rested for your long run Saturday morning. Or maybe you want to lift heavier weights at the gym – create a habit of going there every day on your way home from work to increase your progress.

Related: 10 Healthy Habits to Keep You Fit Year Round

Revamp your diet.

As your workouts increase and activity levels rise, a great way to compliment them is by paying attention to what you eat. The way we fuel our bodies has a direct impact on our physical performance and well being. Rather than starting anything drastic that you won’t be able to maintain, make small healthy changes each day. Is sugar your weakness? Try cutting out sugar during the day and saving desserts for weekends. Are you trying to lose weight? Focus on eating a healthy breakfast packed with protein to keep you full longer. Or maybe you’re just wanting to eat healthier overall. Fill your fridge with fresh veggies and fruits, and cut them up in the beginning of the week. Having prepped fruits and veggies will make choosing a healthier snack much easier when things get busy.

Learn what happened when I quit sugar for 40 days.

Drink more water.

Just like our diet, staying hydrated directly impacts our performance. Try increasing your water intake in small amounts each day, or taking a water bottle with you whenever you leave the house. Having water easily accessible will remind you to drink frequently, and make increasing your water intake that much more convenient. It is recommended that most adults drink half their bodyweight in ounces of water each day (read about it here). Use this number as a rough estimate when creating a goal.

Focus on your core strength.

Our core is the center of our body, and is engaged during every fitness activity we complete. Having a strong core is essential to our fitness improvement. If you want to spring clean your fitness routine to get stronger and healthier, focusing on core strength is a great way to start. Dedicate time each week to work those abs and create stability. Even just a few minutes a day will greatly impact your overall fitness.

Try it out: The Ultimate 30 Minute Core Workout

Plan time for recovery.

When the fresh air and sunshine beckons us outside, we need to remember that increased levels of activity call for increased levels of recovery. The more we do, the harder our muscles work and the more they require to recover. Setting aside time each day or week to stretch, foam roll, and rest allow your muscles a much needed break to rebuild muscle fibers. Find a way to incorporate recovery into your fitness routine that doesn’t feel like a chore. Maybe that means setting aside 5 minutes after each workout to stretch, or dedicating 30 minutes to foam rolling on your rest days.

Related: The 10 Best Lower Body Stretches

Set a step goal.

Spring is the perfect time to get moving more often throughout the day! One of my favorite ways to spring clean my fitness routine is by increasing the amount of steps I take each day. This means being conscious of how long I’ve been sitting, and getting up to take some breaks every so often. Try incorporating a post dinner walk or riding your bike to the post office instead of driving. Increasing your activity throughout the day helps burn extra calories and keeps the blood flowing.

Reset with this 10 day spring fitness challenge.

Download it for FREE: 10 Day Spring Fitness Challenge

If you’re like me, there is nothing more motivating than having a check list and crossing off a goal each day. Reading through so many spring fitness ideas can be incredibly motivating, but also a little overwhelming. I’ve created this 10 Day Spring Fitness Challenge as a way to reset, refresh, and create a strong base upon which you can build. This challenge includes many of the ideas listed here, and lays them out day by day to ensure you dedicate some time to them all. Use this fitness challenge while maintaining your regular fitness routine, or take some time off to reset and get your body ready for a fresh start.

These 10 simple ideas are only the beginning when it comes to spring cleaning your fitness routine. Revamp your workouts, reset your health, and get ready for a season of new beginnings. Taking the time to really dive into your current fitness routine, evaluate what is working and start something new will set you up for great success. Start a new tradition and spring clean your fitness routine each year!

Check out these great resources for creating a solid spring fitness routine:

• 10 Healthy Habits to Keep You Fit Year Round
• What Happened When I Worked Out at 4:30 am Every Day
• 5 Ways I Plan to Overcome My Sugar Addiction
• The Surprisingly Simple Way to Drink More Water
• 7 Ways to Take Spring Running to the Next Level