Eco-Friendly Exercise To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Eco-Friendly Exercise: Let’s do this

With climate change being at the center of international attention, we can all do just a little more to reduce our carbon footprint! Eco-friendly exercise can be a great way to do just that and get fit all at the same time! That’s what the DIY Nation is all about!

Eco-Friendly Exercise

Is your fitness routine increasing your carbon footprint? It doesn’t have to!

The gym is full of energy-guzzling exercise equipment, but humans have been exercising since long before gyms existed.

A little creativity and a sense of adventure are all you need to spice up your fitness routine and cut down on your energy usage. Here are four great ways to stay unplugged while you exercise:

1. Work Out at Home

Eco Friendly Exercise At HomeWho says you need to leave your house to get a good workout (AKA DIY Nation)? You can create your own unplugged fitness routine right in your own home. There are lots of exercises you can do with just the weight of your own body. No stair-stepping machine is required, here.

Don’t forget to turn the TV off for a truly unplugged workout experience, though. If you’re a TV junkie looking for a way to spice up your workouts with the TV off, try a workout routine inspired by your favorite show or character.

If you’re not into solo workouts, get your family or friends involved. Exercising at home doesn’t mean exercising alone.

Whether you’re doing living room push-ups with your spouse or playing backyard football with the neighbors, the company is sure to liven up your home fitness routine.

2. Explore your Neighborhood

Here’s a great eco-friendly exercise method! Going for a walk, run, or bike ride around your neighborhood is another great way to get some exercise without ever hopping in your car. Sunrise is the perfect time for a walk or run.

Take advantage of the crisp morning air and go enjoy the beauty of nature, whether you live in a suburb or a bustling city. Find a tennis court and have a friendly game.

If you live near your grocery store or post office, get in the habit of running errands on foot or by bike. It’s the perfect eco-friendly way to combine exercise with chores.

The key is to take smaller, more frequent grocery runs so you can carry everything without a car.

As an added bonus, more frequent grocery runs means more fresh produce in your life!

3. Make it a Beach Day

If you live near the ocean or a big lake, leave your electronics at home and head to the beach! Swimming is an amazing full-body workout, but the exercise options don’t end there.

Bring your whole family or a group of your friends, because the beach has something to offer for everyone.

Aquatic sports like skimboarding are a great way to exercise at the beach.

It doesn’t take much to get started—just a board, a beach, and some determination. The sooner you start learning; the sooner you can pick up cool tricks to show your friends.

If you prefer to stay dry, the beach is also a great place to run. Running on sand works muscles that hard running surfaces can hardly touch. Sand-running is lower-impact than running on pavement, but the unsteady surface can be hard on weak ankles.

If you’re a beginner, try strengthening your ankles by running on wet sand before you move on to dry sand.

4. Take a Hike

There’s always something new to explore in the great outdoors, so hiking is a fitness routine that will never get old. There’s more to hiking than just backpacking and mountain climbing.

Pick your favorite park and explore every nook and cranny, or make a list of parks near you and visit a different place each time you go. The options are endless!

It doesn’t take much to get started hiking. Here are the essentials for exploring your local parks:

  • Water Bottle: Be sure to bring along a reusable water bottle or two—the bigger the better.
  • Food: Bring some granola bars, trail mix, or dried fruit to keep your energy up. If you’re going on a long hike, bring a picnic lunch.
  • Sunscreen and Bug Repellant: Plenty of eco-friendly versions exist if you don’t want to release harmful chemicals into the environment.
  • First Aid Kit: Make sure it’s well-stocked before you go.
  • Backpack: Any Backpack will do, as long as it fits your supplies.
  • Comfortable Footwear: You’ll want to get some hiking boots eventually, but whatever athletic shoes you have laying around will allow you to explore some of the easier trails at your local parks.

Wrap-Up

Now get out there and start your unplugged fitness routine today!

Your body will thank you, and so will the planet.

What’s your favorite eco-friendly exercise method? Tell us below!

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