Figuring out what your new workout routine looks like after college can be challenging. After graduating from college, I realized that more than a decade of my life was filled with organized sports- practices, games, tournaments, and routines led by coaches and instructors. What would I do without those mandatory practices, a team to spend time with, or games to look forward to?
Finding a new routine that works for you can be tough, but possible. Here are four steps I took to figure out what my new workout routine would look like after playing college sports.
How to Create a Workout Routine After College
Figure out what you like. After graduation I tried different workouts to mix it up. Now that I didn’t have to worry about getting injured or preserving my energy before a big game, this was the time for me to experiment with new exercises.
It didn’t take me long to realize that basketball, indeed, was the sport I enjoyed the most. I tried running, spin classes, agility courses, even kickboxing. While all of these were fun (and while I do enjoy a Peloton spin class regularly) my most joy still comes from lacing up my sneakers and playing pick up ball. Give yourself some time to see if another sport or activity is something you want to pursue next.
Find a new motivation. As an active high school or collegiate athlete, your main motivation might’ve been to win a championship. Now you’ll need to find a new motivation for working out. During this life change, a decided a few of my motivation to workout were:
- Staying healthy: not focusing on the number on a scale, rather working out to feel good and to look good
- Prevent illness: working out would help me prevent chronic conditions that run in my family or that come with not being active
- Help manage my stress and anxiety
- Serve as a welcome distractions: workouts help me take a break from my day-to-day routine and gives me a mental boost. Workouts are the best distractions in my day.
- More energy: I found that working out consistently helped increase my energy levels
Consider cost. I realized quickly is that signing up for one-off classes, entering races, and traveling to athletics events can cost a lot, quickly. Can you afford your new workout regimen?
Sometimes we don’t realize how expensive it costs to fund our sport. I received four free years of workout clothes, sneakers, gym time and more. I soon learned how these resources add up when I had to pay for it myself.
Create a schedule. Finally, find out what time(s) work best for you and schedule your workouts. Right now, the best time for me to workout is 5:30am-5:45am each day. I do my best to schedule 4-5 workouts in each week to stay consistent and hold myself accountable.
Once you figure out what type of workouts work for you, stick to your schedule and pat yourself on the back. Making the transition from student-athlete to post-grad athlete is a huge adjustment, but it can be done with a little effort,