Keep fit and have fun the smart way this summer

Keep fit and have fun the smart way this summer

Keep fit and have fun the smart way this summer

We are now well into the UK summer and while the change in routine and glorious sunny weather may be lifting our spirits, it’s round about now that the boredom can threaten to spoil the holiday feeling. Whether we are spending the summer at home or on holiday, there’s only so much ‘chilling’ a human body can do before we start to crave physical activity and stimulation once more.

The good news is that, with a simple smart speaker, help is at hand to drive away the boredom and kickstart a range of exciting activities that you can do wherever you happen to be. So grab your smart speaker, music playlist, a picnic and some friends and try out some of our summer boredom busters – fun and fitness guaranteed!

Fancy footwork

Dancing is a perennially popular thing to do, especially since it comes in so many shapes and sizes. So, if ballet is your bag, or you prefer to boogie on down in a Zumba class, all you have to do is find the right music for the mood and dance the day away. You can download some dance routines, follow a dance video online or simply search your own imagination for some fancy footwork inspiration.

If you find yourself loving the beat, you may like to book some dance classes or theatrical productions for September to keep the dancing fun flowing. Keep an open mind to try out some brand-new, funky dance styles and you may discover a whole new passion to take you through to winter. Check local listings for a Zumba class near you.

Al fresco fitness

Keeping up with your fitness regime when it’s bright and sunny outdoors is never easy. The thought of sweating in a stuffy studio can be enough to put anyone off. So, take your exercises outside this summer with a pumping music soundtrack courtesy of your smart speaker to keep the heart beat up. Look for somewhere quiet where you won’t disturb other people with your music and you’re good to go.

If you are not used to exercising outdoors, make sure that you invest in some good quality trainers, bring plenty of water and your phone to time your session. Work out an exercise routine that you are medically capable of, but one that pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone in advance. Don’t forget to warm up before you start the main exercises and cool down again afterwards to reduce or remove the risk of injury.

Soundtrack to the world

Being a tourist is an amazing way to spend your summer, whether you are a long way from home or a few steps along from your own doorstep. While you are busy exploring, why not download a podcast about the area you are in, or find some suitable music to walk along to, to get you in the mood for meeting the locals. If your smart speaker has internet radio functionality, you could even tune in to the local station to find out what’s going on.

You may stumble across some fun events or activities that are not advertised on the main tourist trails. What a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture! Once again, make sure that any music or radio programme that you play is not disturbing other people or breaking any local laws or regulations.

Challenge yourself

Finally, engage the whole family in keeping fit and dumping those sedentary screens over the summer with your very own family or friends’ Summer Olympics. Set fun challenges such as seeing how many sit ups you can do during the length of one song played on your smart speaker, or doing a star jump every time a certain word is spoken or sung on the radio. Can you jog on the spot for the entire duration of a podcast, or take it in turns to search for the most ludicrous fitness routine to follow using your speaker’s voice-recognition software? The possibilities are as endless as summer seems!