5 tips to switch from indoor workouts to outdoor workouts this summer

Summer is here, a time when stunning wildflowers blossom, sunny days are abundant, and temperatures are rising. If you haven't already, this means that now is the time to ditch indoor cardio and home workouts and mix and match them with outdoor ones.

The benefits of outdoor exercise are abundant, and exercising in nature may help boost your physical and mental wellbeing and lower your risk of chronic disease. And if you're already an outdoor athlete, i.e., a trail runner, cyclist, climber, etc., what are you waiting for?

But we know that transitioning from indoor workouts, home workouts, and predominantly gym-based ones to outdoors can require a bit of kick and motivation- which is why we're here to help you today.

Why are outdoor workouts beneficial?

With summer here, outdoor workouts are needed more than ever for hybrid training. Here are 3 reasons why they're great:

Accessibility

With hotter temperatures, more people are hitting the gym, striving for a summer physique, making regular indoor workouts crowded. Switching it up by working out outdoors, going for a trail run in your local hills, hitting an outdoor gym, cycling or swimming on the coast can remove barriers to your performance. Simply by going outside, you can reduce time constraints and headaches and save money, too. 

Get your daily dose of vitamin D

Whether you do outdoor workouts at home, in your neighbourhood, or on the trails, you'll likely get exposed to sunlight, increasing your Vitamin D levels. Your body does not make this essential nutrient, and it plays a key role in supporting the health of your immune system, bones, heart, brain, muscles, and nervous system. 

Helps reduce stress

Working outdoors allows you to reconnect with nature; by default, your serotonin levels are often boosted. Being exposed to parks, the sea, and the sun can help improve mood and reduce stress and feelings of anxiety.

Increased calmness can help you focus and be more mindful and ready for other areas, such as important races or events coming up this summer. Taking in your surroundings outdoors can distract you from stressors in your life. 

How to transition from indoor to outdoor workouts? 

If you've been in a slump stuck indoors, we understand it can be hard to make that switch outdoors. To help you get started, try the following:

Warmup

Do you take time to warm up when you're indoors, i.e., in your home or the gym? If that's a yes, then apply the same rule to the outdoors. Many people go straight onto the road or trail with no dynamic stretching. Take time, prepare, and prevent any injuries from occurring. 

Hydrate

With another day passing, the weather is only going to get hotter. This means you'll want your body to adapt to the summer temperatures ahead properly. With temperatures ranging between 18.6 - 25.8 °C in Sydney alone and hotter in other areas outside, staying hydrated is key to transitioning and working outdoors.

You should hydrate yourself beforehand and drink during and after your workout. Add electrolytes to your diet to replace water lost through sweat whenever possible. 

Set Goals 

Returning to outdoor workouts may seem overwhelming and discouraging at first. Sometimes, it may require a lot more mental energy and pep talk (especially if you have to get up early to do a morning run or cycle).

But it doesn't have to be! You can start off small and set incremental goals, like exercising for 30 minutes outdoors or running 5km. Then, gradually build them up to bigger time frames or distances!

Keep a workout plan/training diary  

Simply write down a training plan, document workouts, and note the exercises done, the duration, and how you felt. Monitoring progress after each workout can encourage you to do more workouts and stick to outdoor ones. 

Have an accountability workout partner 

You're probably no stranger to the term having an accountability partner, but it works! In fact, you are more likely to complete a goal by up to 65% if someone is holding you accountable.  It can be a great push, be it them knocking on your door first thing in the morning or being in a certain place for a specific time!

Final thoughts on transitioning from indoor to outdoor workouts

Overall, transitioning from indoor to outdoor workouts can be challenging and tough to get back into. However, with temperatures increasing, it's a good idea to start now and slowly adapt to the hotter weather.

To prepare for training outdoors, warm up well, stay hydrated, and set small goals to encourage you to work out more. An accountability partner may also help, giving you that little extra push. The benefits of outdoor training are abundant, too!

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