Winter Blues be gone: Spring is the perfect time to kick start healthier habits
New Year's Resolutions are all very well, but seriously, who wants to be out jogging or cycling when the nights are still dark and the temperatures are still low? Spring officially begins today, and it's the ideal time to start a fitness regime - signs of new life are all around (hello blossom!), summer is just around the corner, and we're enjoying lighter nights and warmer days. And while vibrant colours are just good sense in winter - for the sake of visibility and mood-boosting, if nothing else - there's even more reason to embrace them as the days start getting longer and our worlds start (finally!) seeming more vivid, bright and optimistic.
When it comes to fitness regimes, it's frequently said that sometimes just lacing on your shoes is the first and hardest step. Not so with the the Nike Metcon 8 training shoe, which, as well as giving you super traction and unparalleled stability when you're working out, also look so good that you won't be able to wait to put them on.
WIT Fitness £114.95
MP's Tempo Wave collection is available in pink, turquoise and black. As well as the sports bra pictured here, there's also a short-sleeved fitted crop tee with a cute cutout on the back. The whole collection is an instant mood elevator.
MP Activewear Tempo Wave collection priced from £36 (tops) to £46 (leggings)
Even when the sun is in gentle Spring mode, hydration is still key. Throw a HUX tablet into your water bottle and, not only will it taste better, but you'll replace essential electrolytes and minerals, too - leaving you refreshed and ready for the rest of what your day holds.
HUX Health from £12.80 per twin pack
Could anything say 'here comes the sun' more eloquently than this floral sweatshirt? Perfect for when you're cooling down, or when your fitness regime is more gentle than sweaty, or simply when there's still a bit of a nip in the air.
Lands' End RRP £65, currently reduced to £19
As noted above, hydration is key - but so are refillable, eco-friendly bottles from which to glug your H2O. London-based, family-run brand, Ohelo are committed to ethical production, with all of their dishwasher-safe bottles being 100% lead-, BPA-, BPS- and BPF-free. They're also available in laser-engraved designs ranging from yellow honeycomb and bees, to pink and cherry blossom: spring fling in a bottle.
Ohelo bottles from £29
Scientifically developed in Ireland, Zest Active delivers 25 active ingredients to support energy production and muscle function, as well as the brain and immune system. And a sachet of powder to a glass of water added to water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning: it's been shown that vitamins and minerals dissolved in liquid form are more readily absorbed by the body than capsules.
Zest Active £29.95 per box of 30
One of the most important parts of being a goal-getter is being a goal-setter .. and what better goal to aim for, when Winter finally bids us farewell, than happiness? Fitness is one the best ways to achieve a positive mindset and a feel-good approach to life - and it's been scientifically proven that, just by writing your goals down, you are 42% more likely to achieve them. Created by Positive Psychologist Megan Price, this 12-week happiness planner is packed with interventions to get - and keep - your mood and wellbeing on the up.
Using recycled fabrics which have been certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), this t-shirt will make you feel great before you even step outside. Its long sleeved design is perfect for those Spring days when the air is a little brisk, or for when your workout won't necessarily have you working up a sweat. Best of all, this seamless, soft and hard-wearing fabric has been treated with an eco-friendly anti-odour, anti-bacteria technology - so you can wear it more, wash it less and save water as you go.
Featuring colours inspired by the Yorkshire landscape, by which the TOG24 team are surrounded, the SS 23 drop is a dream of subtle foliage print in deep navy and vivid pink. Super soft, quick-wicking fabrics, flattering cuts and long-line tops - with a touch of sass by way of contrast crossover straps - mean that you'll look and feel confident, no matter what your Spring regime involves.
Tog24 from £35
With enough product to enhance five baths in each box, the Sport formulation from The Bath Project has been blended to assist muscle recovery, boost circulation, ease tension and help to eliminate lactic acid build-up. Containing Epsom salts, mint, eucalyptus and peppercorn, as well as soothing coconut oil, this bath time alchemy will see you ready to do it all again tomorrow. Add the blue pigment to your bath water to enhance the feeling of positivity and relaxation that you've gained from working out.
The Bath Project, £70