During the summer 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 the summer sunshine come high temperatures and humidity, which can make going outside unpleasant—and in some cases dangerous. Instead of using the weather as an excuse to plop down on the couch, consider doing a healthy indoor activity instead. Here are a few of our favorite ideas!
Hot summer day workouts
Being stuck inside doesn’t mean you can’t do physical activity!
- Find a workout routine you’d like to try and do it! Try two of our favorites: This routine to super-charge your day or choose between these workouts based on the amount of time you have.
- 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 summer heat 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 help you get rid of expired food and 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. Look to incorporate summer fruits and veggies.
- Create a meal plan. Having a meal plan can help you avoid impulsively eating snacks or spending too much money at the grocery store. In addition to planning what meals you want to make, also write down what ingredients you need to purchase to make them.
- 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!
- Take a little time for yourself. De-stress by unplugging and focusing on something you enjoy doing. Whether that’s taking a 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.
Have fun and stay healthy this summer!
