With a summer jam-packed with sport, from the Euros to the Olympics, to the Grand Slams to the Paralympics, there has been ample inspiration to stay active during these warm months. However, transferring our dedication to supporting our favourite athletes from the comfort of our couches, to actually getting off said couches and doing a workout, isn’t always an easy task.

As a former junior elite triathlete, an ex college rower and member of the Blues swim team, sport has always been an important, and an essential, part of my lifestyle. My school days were bookended by swim, bike and run sessions, and my university routine was often scheduled around early morning outings, post-lecture ergs and freezing lido sessions. Seeking a change during my year abroad, I took up indoor rock-climbing and was essentially off and out of the water for nine months. While I enjoyed this foray into a new sport, I am looking to have a last crack at getting a full Blue next year, which means getting my body into shape before Michaelmas chaos commences.

The summer holidays can present many challenges to students in their active endeavours, namely the lack of camaraderie that can be taken for granted in the Cambridge bubble. Some may be fortunate in having sports teams, exercise groups or even a walking buddy while at home, but I personally feel the absence of my rowing crew and my pool teammates, as well as the structure that this organised sport provided in my daily routine.

“My solution… was to give into my pathological fear of being unproductive, and plan out every day of the summer”

Working at a summer school in Cambridge in July, I found myself surrounded by other keen exercisers by chance, and most of our free time from mentoring (babysitting) teenagers was spent attempting to keep fit, whether it be with a late-night gym sesh at PureGym, a sunny swim at Jesus Green Lido, or kicking a rugby ball around Llamas Land while the kids played Capture the flag. We had almost formed a makeshift sports team, finding a routine with our work schedule and motivating each other to get out and move. However, with the end of summer school came the end of the routine, and the necessity to self-motivate to exercise.

My solution to this change was to give into my pathological fear of being unproductive, and plan out every day of the summer with physical, academic, and amusement tasks. Such tasks may include reading an article, Portuguese practice on Duolingo, or five minutes of core: 1-minute mountain climbers / 1-minute flutter kicks / 30s side plank / 30s other side plank / 1-minute bicycles / 1-minute low plank hip dips. I find it difficult to force myself into a plank out of the blue during the day, so I tend to tag it onto the beginning or end of a workout. Tick, tick and tick.

“It can never hurt to seek out a group activity or class that could double your endorphin rush by integrating socialisation within your workout. ”

I understand not everyone finds as much joy out of ticking boxes, and I would applaud you for being more spontaneous in your summer exercising. We all have our preferred methods for staying active. I’ve been known to seek out YouTube videos for no equipment workouts, yoga routines, even CrossFit sessions that you can do at home with soup cans and water bottles. Whilst these can be efficient and affordable, they are also solitary. It can never hurt to seek out a group activity or class that could double your endorphin rush by integrating socialisation within your workout. But there are also little everyday habits you can get into that don’t have to be an entire workout. Try the classic butt clench while waiting at a red light in the car, or some slow and controlled calf raises while the kettle boils - you would be surprised by the sting you’ll feel after just a few repetitions.

There are days when I don’t feel like getting sweaty, or getting my hair salty or chlorinated from a swim. In these cases, I can feel equally if not more fulfilled by replacing these workouts with an evening walk. Try not bringing your phone with you. Not to sound like the millennial that I spiritually am, but we spend a terrifying amount of our lives connected to a device. I find I have my best thoughts during a stroll when there’s nothing else to think about or distract me.

Above all, the best thing we can do for our bodies during the vacation is sleep. I’m no scientist, but I like to think it’s necessary to build up the hours while we can, to avoid going into sleep debt come Week 5. So whether you’re deep into the cult of Cambridge rowing, or bogged down by reading and need an endorphin boost, get out, touch some grass, do a cartwheel, and enjoy the last days before our exercise is running to Sidge late for a lecture.