New Year’s Resolutions Every Swimmer Should Consider

Whether you swim for sport or your own personal enjoyment, there’s always room for improvement with what you do in and out of the water. The new year is a great time to make some adjustments that will ultimately benefit you and contribute to a more enjoyable and productive swimming experience. Here are some of the top New Year’s resolutions for swimmers to consider.

Get More Sleep

Sleep is what helps the body recover and regain its strength. If you’re not regularly getting 7–8 hours of high-quality sleep each night, resolve to make an effort to do so in the new year. Being well rested will also make it easier for your body to benefit more from the stimulation swimming provides.

Eat Healthier

According to Shape.com, swimming can burn anywhere from a few hundred calories per hour to more than 800 if you get more vigorous. But you’re not going to reap the maximum benefits of all this calorie burning if you’re not mindful of what you eat when you’re not in the water. It’s fine to occasionally indulge, but resolve to adopt a diet that also includes:

• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Lean proteins
• Low-fat dairy products
• Healthy snacks

Improve Posture

Top swimmers such as Michael Phelps routinely have their heads and shoulders aligned while always sticking to optimal form and technique. Even if you don’t have Olympic aspirations, resolving to be more aware of your posture can certainly help you achieve your personal goals with swimming.

Practice More

Swimming isn’t something you learn once and that’s it. If you’ve been frustrated over the past year by not seeing significant progress, it may be because you need to brush up on proper form and technique, even if you only swim in a lap pool. If this applies to you, resolve to give yourself more time to practice and become increasingly aware of how to position your body in the water.

Streamline Off Walls

Pushing off pool walls with your arms may seem convenient, but it actually makes your arms tired. If building speed is one of your goals, resolve to streamline off walls instead of pushing with your arms. You’ll be rewarded with a gradual boost in speed.

Breathe Bilaterally

A lot of swimmers are in the habit of one-sided breathing during freestyle swimming. If this applies to you, resolve to alternate and breathe on both sides. Bilateral breathing is beneficial because it eases head-neck-shoulder stress. One easy way to breathe this way is to turn your head in one direction to breathe during one lap and reverse it for the next one.

Exercise on Land

Swimming is certainly a great form of exercise. However, if this is primarily all you do for exercise, you’re not doing yourself any favors. For the new year, strive to find land-based forms of exercise that can stimulate the same muscle groups targeted by swimming. You’ll benefit from increased strength and flexibility that will help you in and out of the pool. Possibilities include:

• Yoga or Pilates
• Walking and/or treadmill use
• Core-based workout routines

For people who are looking for the perfect way to boost physical fitness levels, swimming can be the ideal choice. As one of the premier San Diego pool companies, San Diego Pools can create a custom pool for you that offers a great way to exercise as well as a place to relax and get away from it all. Give us a call today at 888-707-7786.