When 2018 struck, I made that same new year’s resolution that all of us do every single year: to be more active. Now that it’s a little bit further into the year, I’m renewing that resolution and hoping to incorporate some more physical activity into my life. I’ve found that the best way to do this is to find ways to be active that don’t feel like chores and to choose activities that I genuinely look forward to. Here are five fun ways I’ve tried to keep active over the past little while.
1. Hiking
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Grab your running shoes, a bottle of water and a friend, and go for a hike! You’ll kill two birds with one stone, getting some fresh air and escaping the confines of your room. If you’re into nature, hiking is an amazing way to keep fit. It’s more exciting than the flat terrain you might usually experience, and is a better workout, too.
2. Rock Climbing / Bouldering
Rock climbing isn’t just a fun kid-birthday-party thing! Rock climbing and bouldering (a form of climbing without ropes or harnesses on smaller walls) are amazing upper-body workouts that exercise muscles you may not normally focus on. They’re also fun activities to do with friends, with beginner and more challenging routes that everyone can try.
3. Trampolining
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Maybe this is my inner child speaking, but trampolining is seriously one of the most fun ways to “work out,” ever, in my opinion. It doesn’t feel like exercise at all, but is an amazing cardio workout. It is, unfortunately, a bit on the pricier side, since you’ll most likely have to visit a trampoline park, but it’s a fun thing to do every now and then!
4. Dancing
Again, I might be personally biased, but I never feel like I’m exercising whenever I’m dancing. There are so many different types of dance (that are all great workouts) and there’s bound to be one that you’ll enjoy. Be open to trying different styles, from swing dance, to hip hop, to Zumba and get ready to sweat while dancing to the music.
5. Parkour
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While I was on exchange, I got to try a two-hour trial parkour class. It was so much fun trying to do tricks with regular everyday objects, like jumping over and under bike racks, walking on ledges, and climbing (or trying to climb) up walls. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but it was an amazing workout that left me sore for days.
These are just five of many, many activities that can help you stay fit – there are so many others, like taking up sports, kickboxing, pole fitness, and more. It’s all about finding out what you enjoy and what makes you want to stay active. Good luck!