As spring arrives and the weather warms up, it’s tempting to jump back into your favourite outdoor activities. But after a winter of reduced activity, it’s crucial to ease back in to avoid injuries and ensure a successful season. Discover how to safely return to your hobbies and set yourself up for a great spring and summer! 🌸🏌️♂️
Getting Back into Activity/ increasing activity
The winter season often brings a slower pace, with the holidays, chilly weather, and shorter days encouraging a more sedentary lifestyle, or a decrease in activities like Golf. As spring arrives and the weather warms up, many of us feel the urge to dive right back into our favourite outdoor activities, whether it’s playing sports, getting back into gardening, or enjoying other hobbies that thrive in the spring and summer months. However, it’s important to keep in mind that our bodies may not be fully prepared for a sudden spike in activity. Whether you took a complete break from Golf or simply reduced how often you played during the winter, easing back into these activities is essential to avoid injury and set yourself up for success in the coming months.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Your Body Needs Time to Reacclimate
During the winter break, you may have taken a break from exercise. While your mind feels refreshed and your body has had time to rest, and your muscles, joints, and heart may need to adjust. This is because, when we’re less active, our muscles become less flexible, and our range of motion decreases. Jumping into intense workouts after a break can lead to strain or injury. Start with light stretching, walking, or gentle activities to ease your body back into movement.
- Focus on Consistency, Not Intensity, to Start
The foundation of a successful fitness routine is consistency. After a long break, it’s crucial to prioritize steady, sustainable progress over pushing yourself to the limit. Begin with low to moderate activity and increase the intensity gradually. This will help you build a routine that sticks without overloading your body, ultimately leading to better long-term results. For example, in the first week of your return start with playing 9 holes, and when you feel your form has returned, return to playing 18 holes.
- Adjust Your Nutrition Gradually
During the holidays and winter season, your eating habits might have changed, and your body may need time to adjust to regular, balanced meals again. Easing into exercise allows you to focus on healthy nutrition and hydration. Instead of jumping into intense workouts right away, use this time to establish a balanced routine that includes both good nutrition and moderate activity.
- Listen to Your Body
After a winter break, your body will send you signals about how it’s feeling. If you experience fatigue, soreness, or discomfort beyond normal post-workout muscle aches, it’s important to give yourself rest. Listen to your body’s cues, and allow extra time for recovery. Incorporate stretching, foam rolling, and good sleep habits into your routine to help your muscles recover and avoid unnecessary strain.
So in summary…
After a winter break, the goal is to ease back into activity rather than rush into it. Allowing yourself time to rebuild strength, flexibility, and endurance will not only minimise your risk of injury but also set you up for lasting success. Progress may take time, but consistency is the key to building a fitness routine that lasts. So be kind to your body, take it slow, and enjoy the journey of rediscovering your strength!