During the spring months, you’re likely to be more enthusiastic about going outside to do fun, healthy activities like hiking, running, cycling, or even just going for a walk or bringing your yoga workout outdoors. Unfortunately, along with spring flowers come spring showers, which can make going outside unpleasant. Instead of using the wet weather as an excuse to plop down on the couch, consider doing a healthy activity instead. Here are a few of our favorite ideas!
Rainy-day workouts
Being stuck inside doesn’t mean you can’t do physical activity!
- Search YouTube. Find a workout routine you’d like to try and do it!
- Try a new exercise. If you just want to try one or two new moves instead of an entirely new workout routine, peruse our Workouts of the Week for step-by-step instructions.
- Walk or pace. Is the TV calling? Want to scroll through your Facebook feed? Why not walk in place while you do those activities? It’s a low-impact way to fit in some activity.
- Do some chores. Doing chores can help keep you moving! Try catching up on your backlog of laundry; going through cluttered areas of the house to determine what to keep, trash, or donate; or giving your bathroom a deep cleaning.
- Dance a little. Beat the rainy day doldrums by putting on some fun, upbeat music and dancing around. (If you’re doing chores like laundry or cleaning the kitchen, combine the music and dancing with these tasks to make them more fun!)
Friendly reminder: Make sure you discuss any new exercise with your doctor first.
Improve your nutrition
Hey you, with the snack food in your hand, headed in the direction of the TV—why don’t you try one of these ideas instead?
- Clean out your fridge or pantry. This can not only help you get rid of expired food, but it also provides an opportunity for you to reorganize your kitchen in a way that supports healthy eating.
- Make a new recipe. Use the indoors time to your advantage by making a healthy dish. Search online to find a new-to-you recipe.
- Create a meal plan for the next few days. Having a meal plan can help you avoid impulsively eating snacks or spending too much money at the grocery store. In addition to planning out what meals you want to make, also write down what ingredients you need to purchase to make them.
- Clean the germy areas in your kitchen. Just wiping down the counters isn’t enough! Keep your kitchen sparkling clean with these tips to clean the germy spots that aren’t always top of mind.
- Start tracking your food. Being aware of what and how much you’re eating can help you with any nutrition and weight loss goals you may have. Use a food tracking app like MyFitnessPal (or your other favorite app), or just jot down what you eat (and your portions/serving sizes) in a notebook.
Other healthy activities
Keep your brain sharp and your stress levels down!
- Read a book. There are so many potential health benefits of reading, like relieving stress, learning new things, and more.
- Try a puzzle. Puzzles can help you keep your brain sharp and active. Do a jigsaw puzzle, a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, or play some word games.
- Write a letter. Write an email or letter to someone to express gratitude for their friendship. This simple act of kindness will brighten their day! (Read about other random acts of kindness you can do here.)
- Try meditating. The raindrops hitting the windows will provide a relaxing and atmospheric touch to your meditation.
- Take a little time for yourself. De-stress by unplugging and focusing on something you enjoy doing. Whether that’s taking a warm bath, watching your favorite movie, or doing a craft project or hobby, give yourself some uninterrupted time to do an activity that helps you feel happy and relaxed.
For Health Advocate members
If you are a Health Advocate member with access to the wellness coaching component of our Wellness Program, connect with a Wellness Coach for additional tips on fitness, nutrition, stress management, and more.
