If you train for fitness, there is no off-season. If you are a sportsman, definitely there is a break between end of in-season and pre-season. It is one of those times when you face a risk of getting off your training track. You have to take an extra care of your training need. You have to put more effort into it.

There are loads of ideas: how you can stay fit during off-season. It is more to maintaining a discipline in your life. It does not necessarily involve heavy workouts or intense exercises.

Here we can give you some ideas how you can keep yourself busy and fit during off-season.

1) Plan ahead

At time when you are coming closer to end of your in-season, start thinking of what comes ahead of you. What you would do during off-season? How would you spend your time? Who would you spend your time with? Family or friends? Are you planning a world tour? A trip to any place? A getaway?

Plan your off-season plans to the last detail. It would make you mentally prepare to face off-season boldly, and come out of it fit and healthy.

Don’t just wait for it just like an ordinary person. Don’t let it go and pass by like any other person. Have a professional approach towards it and do your best about it.

2) Don’t let yourself carried away

Amid your celebrative mood and surroundings, you find an overwhelming amount of energy and thrill. You want to make most of the celebrations with your fan and family.

You might hit a bar more often. You might drink more and more frequently. One pint extra, one drink extra, can lead you to many drinks.One act can take you to away-from-fitness activities.

Avoid all that. It will drag you into its whirl without you even noticing it. Make sure you do not drink alcohol at all. If you do, do it as little as you can. It is time to maintain a line, a line of discipline.

It is first and foremost important act to your fitness and health. Once you are off-track you might not be able to touch the same level of your fitness.You would need an intense workout to achieve that level again.

3) Eat healthy

Be smart in your food choices during off-season.Eat organic food, if it is easily available. Allow more time per meal. It will help your body digest your food thoroughly.

When your body is able digest what you eat properly, your immune system strengthens. It gives your body more energy and nutritional value.

Avoid eating processed and frozen foods. When you have time, prepare your food by yourself. Get involved with your family while they prepare food in the kitchen. It helps you keeping yourself busy. You spend quality time with your family. Most importantly, you eat healthy.

Also, drink a lot of water. During in-season your fitness instructor keeps you aware of your body’s energy requirement. You eat short-term energy boosting food such as fruits. You drink a lot of water. You should maintain that routine and momentum during off-season.

In short, serve your body a quality food. Serve in short and frequent intervals. Drink a lot of liquid i.e. water and juices. So, your body stays properly nourished and hydrated. You stay healthy, fit and fresh.

4) Work on your home fitness equipment

Your home fitness equipment is the best thing to have during off-season. You can plan your workout at your home. Take a walk, jog or run on your treadmill. Cycle on a fixed bike. Work on your leg muscles. You have a lot of time and all the space at your disposal for exercise and fitness.

You can exercise in all weathers and temperatures. It is safer. You can exercise late evening or early morning. You have a complete sense of security and privacy.

It allows you to work out in short intervals. You can exercise more than one time during the day and night. You can increase your pace and intensity when you feel higher in energy and motivation. You can do less when you feel down in energy.

5) Hit a gym

When your home fitness equipment does not suffice your fitness and workout requirement and level, you should join gym. You would have other fitness-lovers around you. Their workout can inspire more energy and enthusiasm in you.

You can partner with someone, may be a teammate, to do exercise and workouts together. It is a rather organized activity. It gives you greater fitness and health benefits.

6) Get a getaway

A hike, a countryside camping and walk, mountaineering and world tour, you can get many options in a getaway. You should consider the length of your off-season, and if you have a substantial time for it, noting is as good an option as a getaway, to keep you fit and give you a fresh start to your next season.

Some getaways are intense-activities focused. They are targeted to drive people out of rough and tough urban conditions to a natural location, to give them a fresh and better start. You can avail a getaway that relates closer to your circumstances and fitness requirement.

7) Visit your family

Visiting and staying with your family i.e. your grandparents can help you spend a quality time and life. It gives you an opportunity to rethink and reorganize. It is even more crucial to your fitness and health needs.

You should be with your family during off-season, especially if you are in another country or region to play your sport.

You can consolidate your strength and regain your energy. If your family, parents or grandparents live in a countryside, the organic and natural environment would serve best to your fitness requirement.

8) Volunteer for a cause

During your off-season you have time and can extend your hand and help to those who might need it the most. Your celebrity status might be even more helpful to fulfillment of their needs and dreams, in addition to providing you with a chance to keep you busy, disciplined and fit.

Volunteer to a fund raiser for your local charity. Visit old and sick people at their accommodations or hospitals. Give your company to sick children for any amount of time or offer your assistance and support to a sick family member or friend.

There are many social and charitable causes you can volunteer yourself to. It gives you an opportunity to understand people and communities from closer. It might give you a new sense of realization and awakening, and you become more aware of the need for taking better care of yourself, your health and fitness.

9) Prepare for pre-season

Off-season is a very short span between in-season and pre-season. While you spend your off-season in more sort of a disciplinary mode, it keeps you conscious of the professional training and workout during pre-season.

It is pre-season when your actual training and fitness drill starts. It is tougher and demanding. Your coach and fitness staff would push you to your limits.

So, if you have maintained a required fitness level during off-season, you would be able to adapt to pre-season workout pressure quickly.

You must not lose yourself to casual lifestyle during off-season and keep yourself fit and ready for the next season.

Author bio:

Sophie is a fitness coach and instructor. She also runs a fitness consultancy advising people on health and fitness related issues. Sophie is currently associated with Xn8 Sports who specialize in designing, manufacturing and selling Boxing, MMA & Fitness gear and accessories.

Reference Resources:

https://www.jenreviews.com/off-season-training/

https://www.verywellfit.com/staying-in-shape-during-racing-off-season-4113887

https://aauconnect.com/off-season-training/

10 Ways to Stay Active While Off Season