Spring is officially here and much of the UK has already experienced a shift in temperature as we turn our backs on winter.

If you’re emerging from hibernation, you might be looking to blow away the cobwebs and stretch your limbs through a new exercise regime.

With World Health Day 2022 just around the corner (7 April), now is a great time to dust off your trainers and start exercising. Or, if you’re already a fully-fledged gym fanatic, why not give your exercise routines a spring clean and try something new?

Here are five tips for exercising more this World Health Day.

1. Make the most of the sunshine

After a long winter, slogging to the gym on dark mornings or taking lunchtime classes online while working from home, spring is here. And that means it’s time to get outside.

You’ll be giving your body a much-needed top-up of vitamin D, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying the beauty of British nature in bloom.

You might begin with a brisk walk, a couch-to-5K, or a bike ride. Once you’re more confident you might opt for a ParkRun or even a wild swim.

Remember too that your local gym might offer outdoor fitness classes so you won’t always need to be cooped up indoors on a cross-trainer or spin class.

2. Spring clean your fitness routine

Whatever your usual fitness regime involves, use the arrival of spring as an opportunity to mix it up!

If you normally concentrate on cardio, try lifting some weights. If you’ve been walking to keep fit but are tired of the same old routes, consider driving – or even cycling – to somewhere new.

Remember to ease your body into a new routine gently. You might be using new muscle groups or putting strain on different joints so start off slow, gradually increasing duration and effort until you’re a pro.

Finding new ways to exercise keeps things fun and should stop you from getting bored. It also gives you a more rounded fitness routine which can help to improve your overall fitness.

3. You can change when – as well as how – you exercise

Another way to reinvigorate your fitness routine is to change the time you exercise. If your habit has been to exercise after work, why not take advantage of the light mornings and switch things around.

If making time for exercise is tricky, try getting out early for a run, or to clock up some steps toward your 10,000 daily target. Enjoying the crisp morning air and releasing endorphins before breakfast will set you up for a productive, energised day.

Equally, if your normal routine is a brisk morning walk, why not take advantage of the lengthening evenings to slowly increase the mileage of your evening stroll.

4. Give yourself accountability

If you haven’t been exercising of late, getting back into the habit can be tricky. One way to make sure your new routine sticks is to tell people about it. Better still, commit with a friend and give each other the confidence and motivational boost you need.

Involving other people, either through letting them know your plans or by arranging to exercise with them, gives you accountability.

You won’t want to let yourself down by admitting failure and you should find that this spurs you on. This is especially important at the start of a new routine when your exercise regime has yet to become a habit.

Organising a regular morning walk, signing up for a ParkRun taking place in two months, or joining a local sports club or team, could all make you accountable and cement your commitment.

Remember too that you don’t need other people to make yourself accountable. Challenging yourself to walk faster, run further, or cycle to work every day could be enough to turn your exercise into a competition to be lost or won.

5. Hire a personal trainer

If your competitive streak isn’t providing enough inspiration, why not take the plunge and speak to a personal trainer (PT).

Not only can they provide in-person motivation, but the financial outlay will also act as its own incentive.

A PT can offer bespoke support, tailored to your fitness aims or needs. Having a professional on hand to help you understand form as you exercise can help to avoid injuries and prevent you from developing bad habits.

Regular sessions booked in advance will ensure your commitment, but your PT should also be able to offer you tips and advice. That advice might concern your physical wellbeing outside of your organised classes, from what to eat to when the best times to exercise are for you.