How to Create a Successful Green Workout Plan
A green workout plan is a type of workout plan that focuses on being environmentally friendly. This can be done by choosing activities with a low environmental impact, such as walking, biking, or hiking. It can also be done by choosing activities that take place in nature, such as swimming in a lake or running through a forest.
You’ve created your healthy lifestyle goals list incorporating a workout plan, but you feel it is insufficient. How about incorporating a workout plan that is perfect for the environment? The hardest part about exercising is the mental aspect. What stops most of us from going to the gym and working out is our self-doubt, lack of motivation, and belief that we can’t achieve what we want.
Staying fit and healthy is a big part of living a happy life. You could stay perfectly fit by simply walking barefoot on the beach; it doesn’t get greener than that! But for those who like to challenge themselves with new workout routines, there are plenty of ways to ensure that your fitness regimen works within your green lifestyle.
Exercise can improve cognitive function, lower stress levels, and even help you sleep better. But working out isn’t easy to prioritize if you’re anything like me. Working out is not just about exercise and fitness; it can also benefit the environment. Here are four tips to help you create a green workout plan.
There are many benefits to creating a green workout plan. For one, it can help to reduce your carbon footprint. It can also help you to connect with nature and improve your overall well-being.
If you are interested in creating a green workout plan, here are a few tips:
- Choose activities that have a low environmental impact. Some examples of low-impact activities include walking, biking, hiking, swimming, and yoga.
- Choose activities that take place in nature. This will help you to connect with nature and improve your overall well-being.
- Consider the environmental impact of your workout gear. Choose gear that is made from sustainable materials and that is made to last.
- Minimize your transportation impact. If possible, walk, bike, or take public transportation to your workouts.
- Offset your carbon emissions. If you are unable to reduce your carbon emissions to zero, you can offset them by donating to a carbon offset program.
Creating a green workout plan can be a great way to improve your health and the environment. By following these tips, you can create a plan that is both effective and environmentally friendly.
Here are some additional tips for creating a successful green workout plan:
- Make it fun. If you don’t enjoy your workouts, you’re less likely to stick with them. Choose activities that you find enjoyable and that challenge you.
- Set realistic goals. Don’t try to do too much too soon. Start with small goals and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts.
- Find a workout buddy. Working out with a friend can help you stay motivated and accountable.
- Make it a part of your routine. Schedule your workouts in advance and stick to your schedule as much as possible.
- Don’t be afraid to take breaks. If you’re feeling tired or sore, take a break. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to injuries.
- Listen to your body. If you’re feeling pain, stop and rest. Don’t try to push through the pain.
With a little planning and effort, you can create a green workout plan that is both effective and enjoyable.
A green workout plan is not difficult.
Let’s review a few points and advice first before diving into creating a workout plan that works. One of the best ways to get a good workout and go green is to get involved with physical projects that help the environment.
- Picking up trash from a large public area (like that beach) can involve a lot of walking, squatting, and lifting.
- Volunteering to help build eco-friendly structures for initiatives like Habitat for Humanity or a non-profit organization devoted to helping the community.
- What about working on composting projects or helping install a neighborhood garden? There’s a lot more to working out than lifting weights.
These projects get the heart pumping and the body moving while doing some good for the world.
Workout equipment you may use
If you use workout equipment like a treadmill or a stationary bike, look for products that capture your energy and convert it to electricity. You could power your laptop, charge your phone, or store backup electricity in batteries while working on your fitness goals. Not only will that help offset the cost to you and the planet, but it will also make it easier to convince yourself to get on the treadmill when you want to relax.
Workout clothing does matter.
Choosing eco-friendly products when you work out is a no-brainer. Organically produced clothing, shoes made of green materials, homemade energy bars that utilize local ingredients, and water you’ve bottled yourself rather than purchased all help reduce your carbon footprint while you workout. You can even find products like eco-friendly yoga mats and weights that are designed for the green athlete.
Stay fit and motivated with a workout partner.
Speaking of athletes, playing a sport is an excellent way to exercise more without adding to the overuse of resources. Consider that most sports, like basketball and football, require only a single ball and maybe a net or two for anywhere from 5 to 20 players. Together you save more resources than if you had separately embarked on your own green workout path. Some sports don’t even need equipment, like running races or parkour. And as a bonus, the team environment helps keep you accountable for your fitness goals.
Keeping sustainability in mind when you work out helps you feel good in more ways than one. So how do you create a successful green workout plan? Is there a formula that works every time? Can you lay out the steps and be guaranteed success?
The answer is: partly yes! If you are determined to exercise and make it part of your lifestyle, if you have realistic expectations and work steadily toward those expectations, and if you surround yourself with people who will support and motivate you along the way, you can create a successful green workout plan.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/fitness
Originally published on Caribbeangreenliving.com on 2/24/2022
