While this time of year might call for a spring clean of the home, it’s just as important to spring clean your fitness program in order to avoid things getting stale. Here are our top tips…

Embrace the great outdoors

Now that it is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, spring is the perfect time to start exercising outdoors again. Not only does your vitamin D intake naturally increase, strengthening your bones and muscles, but being outdoors can also boost your self-esteem and make you feel happier.

Share your progress

More people have started exercising and eating clean with the aid of fitness apps. While some people think that sharing your workout plans and meals on online platforms might seem useless and annoying, research has actually shown that those of us who share our fitness goals with others are more likely to meet their targets.

Engaging with online communities enables people to not only share their progress, but also encourage and motivate each other. But if social media isn’t for you, sharing your goals with a family member or friend can have the same effect. Likewise the support of a running club or regular exercise group will help too.

Try something new

Is your exercise routine feeling stagnant? Step into spring with a new plan! To really challenge yourself, pick a sport you’ve never tried before, or perhaps were too scared to. How about kickboxing or Zumba? Check out what classes your local fitness studio has to offer, or if any friends are part of a fitness group and see if you can join them.

Make it social

Socialising is one of life’s great pleasures, but if you’re on a mission to lose weight or get healthy, why not swap the lunch or coffee dates for an exercise workout with friends? After all, it’s nearly always more fun to tackle difficult tasks with friends and importantly you can also gain support from one another and really test each other’s fitness levels.

Boost Your Workout

For those, who have managed to keep their New Year’s Resolutions, the start of spring provides a good opportunity to reflect upon your workout so far, and give it a little boost. Challenge yourself again and intensify your weekly workout plan. But remember, this doesn’t mean you should spend more hours working out. Research has actually demonstrated that short and intense workouts are more efficient and provide the best results.

Know your limits

While it is good to motivate yourself with new goals, be careful not to overdo things, especially if you’re relatively new to the world of exercise. Good quality sleep and rest is just as important for your overall health as exercise, as it allows your body to recover and restore energy levels.

Celebrate your progress

It’s easy to simply focus on what you still have to achieve, but sometimes it is also important to reflect on how far you have already come. Take note of what you’ve achieved so far and the targets you’ve met and use this as a good way to stay motivated and keep things in perspective.

Martin Ricketts is CEO of Plutus Health
www.plutushealth.co.uk