What You Should & Shouldn’t Do Prior to Swimming

Whether it’s done for fun, exercise, sport, or a combination of all three, swimming offers numerous physical and mental benefits. As is the case with many other physically invigorating activities, there are some things you should and shouldn’t do to fully reap the many rewards of swimming. Below, we break down the most important dos and don’ts to keep in mind before making your way into your San Diego pool to swim.

The Dos

The most important thing to do before swimming is to warm up briefly for about 5–10 minutes, which you can do poolside or in a shallow part of the pool. The purpose of doing light movements or motions before you swim is to prepare your muscles and joints for the shift in activity and minimize the risk of injuries or lingering soreness. Also before you swim, do the following things:

• Do let someone know you’ll be swimming – Err on the side of caution and let someone in your family or a friend know you’ll be spending some time swimming, especially if you have any health issues or concerns.
• Do learn proper form and technique – It’s tempting to literally dive right in with swimming, but you’ll be a safer and more productive swimmer if you spend some time learning proper form and technique first.
• Do bring water to keep nearby – It’s possible to become dehydrated with any type of exercise, including swimming. Keep a water bottle at the side of the pool so you can take regular sips.
• Do make sure your pool is clean – If you’ll be swimming in your backyard pool used for multiple purposes by other family members, take some time to clean it before you swim so you don’t run into debris or floating pool accessories.

The Don’ts

While you don’t want to swim after a big meal to avoid physical discomfort or cramps, there’s no need to automatically wait a certain length of time before swimming after you eat, according to MedicineNet. But there are some things you don’t want to do before swimming, including:

• Don’t swim without a plan – If swimming is going to be part of your overall fitness routine, don’t swim without a plan in mind. For example, you might use an app to remind you to do your 30-minute routine every day or every other day.
• Don’t forego other healthy things when not swimming – Swimming will be more advantageous for your health if you make an effort to do some other beneficial things when out of the water (e.g., eating healthier, getting sufficient sleep, finding ways to exercise on dry land).
• Don’t be unrealistic with your goals – It’s fine to have goals with swimming, but you’ll be better off mentally if you make your goals realistic and achievable.
• Don’t forget to have fun – Whatever your goals or purposes are for swimming, don’t forget to have fun!

If you’re looking for the perfect way to boost your physical and mental health, swimming can be exactly what you need. As an award-winning swimming pool builder San Diego families and businesses have trusted for more than four decades, 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.