Five Ways To Stay Active Outside of the Gym

Hi there and happy Friday! We know that getting to the gym isn’t always at the top of a creative’s to do list because you already have a billion creative projects spilling out of your calendar on a daily basis. So here are our top 5 ways to stay active outdoors (because we know you’ve already tried out all the YouTube yoga and pilates classes). Let’s get some fresh air, people!

Classic Walk / Jog / Run

Okay not to start way too obvious, but let’s not underestimate the benefit of WALKING. If you’re not a runner, just going for a 30-60 minute walk can make a huge difference to your mood. Whether you live near the bay, beautiful hiking trails or regular city streets, why not add a walk in to your weekly or daily routine!

If you’re interested in running but haven’t quite gotten there, I recommend the couch to 5k app! My sister used it years ago (like… a good 10 years ago) and loved it, so I wanted to try it, too (naturally, as sisters do). I went from thinking running was an actual form of torture, to excitedly ‘graduating’ to a 13k and ENJOYING it. Now, I love running, and I love adding bouts of sprinting in, too - just make sure you’ve warmed up enough!!

Fun fact, I learnt to run (aka started couch to 5k) while living in San Fransisco, so the hills killed me - and helped my endurance skyrocket! If you can add in some hills along your run and walks, you will simultaneously love and hate me for it.

Swimming at a Pool or Beach

Summer might be leaving us behind slowly, but the days have definitely still been nice - and let’s not forget about all the indoor pools we have in Melbourne!

I’m personally a huge fan of swimming in the bay, but if that’s not your thing - there’s the St Kilda Sea Baths, Carlton Baths, or a lovely long list of Melbourne pools HERE. You’re welcome :)

I recently went down to the Pool in Geelong (pictured above) on one of the 30+ degree days we had here in Melbourne and oh my golly, it’s worth the drive. (Or, as I did, it’s worth sitting in the car drinking iced coffee while your partner drives).

Bike Ride

If you don’t have a bike but wanted to commit to the idea, jump on marketplace and pick up a cute little vintage (or legit mountain bike; you do you) and google some great tracks around you (or just ride through your nearby streets and look at all the pretty houses).

If you can talk a friend or sibling into getting a bike and riding with you, I guarantee you will have more fun, and do it more often.

Basketball at Open Courts

Great chances there’s some great open courts near you! I know there are a few in St Kilda and also some in Southbank and Kew; so take to your googling, pick up a Basketball at a local sports store, and get some friends together OR head to the court solo and just play. Run, shoot, dribble, whatever you want, just have fun (and remember to give your less dominant arm a go at shooting so you’re not only working your dominant side! As un-flattering as it will be to your ego).

There’s also a fab company called Just Play (give them a google) based in Melbourne where you can sign up to a sport and they will do all the organising for you!

Tennis in Open Courts

Same deal as Basketball above; there are some great courts in South Yarra near Chapel off Chapel and I’m sure other places around Melbourne - pick up a few rackets from an op shop or your parents garage (or a sports store, sure) and go and have fun on the court. Tennis takes a lot out of you, and focuses on cardiovascular with a great amount of plyometrics - great for creatives!

Enjoy the weather while we have it and have fun!

See you next week Xx