Before returning home for the summer, I had made a goal for myself. I am going to work out every day in order to become my best self. This idea was one that snuck its way into my mind in the wee hours of the morning after eating my usual three tacos and an order of nachos from my nearest taco bell. The following morning, I didn't hate my goal, but I instantly started stressing about how on earth I was going to get to a gym every single day. Then, after talking to my dad (he has always been my workout buddy), I remembered that there are more ways to work out than just going to the gym. Here are five ways to work out without going to the gym:
Spend time with children.
I know we all hate to say it, but we are getting old. Our energy is decreasing, we find less motivation to go out, and (in my experience) we have gotten kind of lazy. Children are the exact opposite. They are young and bounding with energy, so much that they can barely contain it. I have a nannying job in which I care for five kids. Nothing works up a sweat more than chasing children around the park. Let me tell you, I don't think I have ever worked harder than when I played an intense game of tag.
Discover a sport.
In middle school and high school, I was really into tennis. In fact, my whole family was really into tennis. Now, my little sister is practically a tennis pro, and we play all the time. It is a great workout because you are physically working hard (you should see the shots this girl gives me), and you are enjoying quality time with someone else. You don't necessarily have to take up tennis, it could be any sport that gets you outside and moving. Some good ideas include soccer, ultimate frisbee, golf and kickball.
Clean up the yard.
This is a perfect way to get the muscles moving because it also gets you brownie points with the parents. I don't know how many of you have ever pushed a lawn mower on a hot summer day, but it is rough. You are sweating like crazy, and you're constantly pushing. It's a great little way to help around the house and work up a sweat. You can also plant flowers, mulch the garden, pull weeds and trim bushes. They may not seem like a hard thing to do, but get out there on a sunny hot day and you will feel the effects of them almost instantly.
Walk (your dog).
When I was back at Morningside College, one of my favorite things to do was go for walks. Plug in some headphones and jam out to music while you are just walking along. It's relatively low impact (it depends on how hard you plan to walk I guess), and it is another good way to spend time with people or pets. Walking doesn't seem like a good workout just looking at it. You don't move really fast or work really hard. But if you walk for more than two minutes you will feel the burn. Also, it's an extra plus if you take along your dog or cat (I personally don't judge people who walk their cats. More power to you!). I have a German Shepard named Hannibal, and walking him is an arm workout in itself.
Ride your bike.
In the summer especially, I like to use my bike for transportation. It is an easy way to get somewhere relatively fast while putting in a little work. It is also great for reducing your carbon footprint! I don't have to spend money on gas for my car, so bike riding is a win-win-win! And even if you don't want to use it for transportation, just going on a simple bike ride can be a workout, and you get to spend time outside and enjoy the beautiful summer day.
I have currently kept up my goal of working out every day. These "workouts" are just easy ways to get your body moving without having to spend a fortune on a gym membership. They are also a lot more fun and useful than sitting on an elliptical for 30 minutes. I am not saying that you shouldn't go to the gym, but maybe take a day off from the elliptical and enjoy the outdoors!
