Key Takeaways: 

• For most people, summer is a time of less stress. On the other hand, it can come with a hefty dose of low self-esteem. Many people struggle with their body image more than usual in the summer. Luckily, these months are also the perfect time to jumpstart a new fitness journey–or optimize your current one. 

• Fortunately, you don’t have to tackle your fitness goals on your own. With today’s technology–enhanced by AI fitness innovations and biometrics–you can combine wearables, apps, and online social groups to fuel any goal that you might have. From WHOOP to WaterMinder and beyond, we’ll cover our favorite health and wellness apps designed to help you plan workouts, manage meals, and even stay safe out on the trails. 
• Making fitness fun will ramp up motivation as well as results. Nike Training Club is a free resource that many people use for overall body fitness. It offers plenty of convenient, instructor-led sessions right at your fingertips. You can also try apps like Strava or many of the other apps designed to help you get fit while having fun. Pick your favorite way to get your body moving, and we can almost guarantee there’s an app for that. 
• Proper rest is a huge part of a successful fitness regiment. Experts tell us that a little down-time is essential for muscle recovery, injury prevention, and mental well-being. The emotional element of recovery is just as important as the physical aspect. Need some help with turning your brain off? Try a meditation app like HeadSpace, and consider adopting a tool like Oura Ring to provide insights on your sleep quality and how to improve it. 

Ah, summer! The season of sun, sandals–and swimsuits. Did we mention it’s also the season of absolutely no excuses for skipping your workout? With longer days and warmer weather, it's the perfect time to get off the couch. 

Plus, thanks to smart apps and wearables, you can turn every sun-drenched hour into a step towards your fitness goals. Did you know millions are ditching gym fees in favor of AI-driven coaching and free fitness apps? That's right—personalized workouts and meal plans are just a tap away! This advice will help you dive into a summer full of fitness fun. 

Strap On a Tracker That Keeps Up

First things first: If you want to keep your fitness game strong, wearable tech is your best friend. Today’s tech has gotten so advanced that you can find a tracker that aligns with your specific goals, and most of them have built-in tools to help you with just-right tactics. Here are a couple of the best fitness trackers. 

• Fitbit has rolled out new Labs features that translate your lab results into language even your grandma could understand. Plus, its Gemini AI gadgets will flag any unusual health trends faster than you can say “beach bod.” 
• Apple Watch (watchOS 26) is like having a personal cheerleader right on your wrist. Its “Workout Buddy” offers real-time pep talks and even suggests playlists the moment you hit the trail. I’ve never felt so much like Beyonce while jogging!
• WHOOP MG is a screen-free band that measures cardiac stats (hello, blood pressure estimates!) and gives you a “Pace of Aging” metric. It even gives personalized recommendations each morning about how much rest vs. recovery you should target. 

Pick one of these devices and let its daily metrics guide you. Do you hope to lose weight, gain strength, or get better sleep? Whether it’s steps, strain, heart rate variability (HRV), or minutes in the zone, these wearables will help you to crush your micro-goals in no time.

Make Movement Fun: Best Workout Apps

Of course, wearable tech can’t do all the work for you. It’s up to you to get up and get moving, but these apps make it easier. For one thing, start by making sure you’re not bored out of your mind. Here are some of the best workout apps:

• Strava is like having a personal tour guide for your runs and rides, suggesting fresh routes and even nearby cafés. Because why not reward yourself with a latte after a solid sweat session?
• Nike Training Club is still free and offers a plethora of filters for muscle groups and intensity. Perfect for those quick body-weight sessions no matter where you are, whether on vacation at the beach or making the most of your time in the office. 
• Apple Fitness+ has upped its game with new pickleball conditioning and breath-meditation programs. Plus, it syncs with Strava—so you can brag about your workouts to your friends.

Pro tip: Schedule two “anchor” workouts each week (think Tuesday HIIT and Saturday long ride) and fill in the gaps with spontaneous Strava or NTC sessions. This will keep your workouts fresh and your motivation stronger. The mix of different apps should help you to put together a schedule that’s effective without feeling too grueling. 

Related Post: Apps to Help You Get Back Into a Routine

Fuel & Hydrate Like a Pro

We hear it a lot from top fitness pros: You can’t out-exercise a bad diet. Nutrition plays a huge role in your overall fitness, and the latest science shows that hydration is huge (and most of us could do better in this area). Try a few of these health and wellness apps to round out your overall fitness goals.

• MyFitnessPal has a nifty “Meal Scan” feature that uses computer vision to log your food instantly, without having to track down categories and guess portion sizes. No more guessing how much protein you got from that slice of pizza!
• Cronometer or MacroFactor can help you fine-tune those micronutrients or advanced macro targets, so you’re not just eating ice cream all summer. Both platforms are fairly intuitive so you’re not busy catching up on a learning curve. 
• WaterMinder will nudge you when it’s time to drink up, especially on those scorching days when you might forget. This is huge for people who don’t think about their water intake as much as they should. 

Recover & Reset

After all that hard work, recovery is key. It’s essential to let your body (and mind) rest as much as possible to get the best effects from your workouts. Plus, summer is a busy time for many of us, and taking some time to relax and replenish will leave you feeling rejuvenated, instead of tapped out. Here are some tools that can help: 

• Headspace is your go-to app for guided meditation. Its AI-driven personalization means you’ll quickly be addicted to the mindfulness streaks.  
• Oura Ring or WHOOP Coach analyze deep sleep debt and suggest wind-down times. Do you ever wake up and feel like you didn’t sleep at all? These tools help you to understand your sleep, and give recommendations on how much rest or sleep you need each day. 

Perhaps most importantly, make it a point to seek balance. Alternate your intense summer training with some gentle evening yoga through Apple Fitness+ or a “Wind Down” session on Headspace. If you feel you’ve gone a bit overboard in the “working out” arena, take a few days off. 

Similarly, don’t forget to reward yourself for achieving small milestones, whether that’s running a certain distance or getting a great night’s sleep (which, as we all know, can be its own reward). 

Related Post: The Importance of Unwinding After a Long Day: How to Truly Relax and Recharge

Build Your Summer Fitness System

Ready to make this summer your fittest yet? Here’s a quick breakdown of advice we’ve compiled from experts. 

1. Set a 90-day Goal: Kick off your summer exercise journey by establishing a clear 90-day goal, whether it's completing a 5k run, ensuring you get a consistent 8 hours of sleep each night, or hitting 10,000 steps daily. Having this target gives you something tangible to strive for, igniting that motivational spark!
2. Connect Your Ecosystem: Make the most of your fitness tech by connecting your devices—let your Fitbit or Apple Watch seamlessly feed data into Strava, while also auto-syncing MyFitnessPal to track your calorie burn. This integration will help you maintain a cohesive view of your fitness journey and keep all your data in one place.
3. Create Themed Phone Widgets: Simplify your routine by creating themed phone widgets of your best workout apps that allow you to log your meals, open Strava for workouts, or start a meditation session on Headspace with just one tap. This way, you can keep fitness and mindfulness at your fingertips, making it easier to stick to your goals.
4. Use Social Features: Engage with others by joining a Strava club or participating in live meditation sessions on Headspace. These social features not only provide accountability but also create a sense of community, making your fitness journey more enjoyable and motivating.
5. Review Analytics Weekly: Set aside time each week to review your fitness analytics rather than checking them hourly. Celebrate any positive trends you notice in your progress and make adjustments as necessary. Always keep an eye on the big picture—are you generally moving in the right direction? If not, identify one or two small changes you can implement to enhance your results, whether it’s adding an extra workout or fine-tuning your diet.
   

By following these steps, you'll build a solid summer fitness strategy that keeps you motivated and on track to reach your goals!

Related Post: Routine by Design: How to Build Routine Around Goals

Quick Safety & Outdoor Essentials

Too many accidents or injuries occur because of simple mistakes. Before you hit the trails, make sure you’re prepared. These tech tools are the ideal summer sidekick. 

• AllTrails or Komoot are great for off-road hikes, complete with offline maps to avoid getting lost in the wild.
• AccuWeather (or your watch’s built-in features) will help you to dodge heatwaves or sudden storms. 
• Apple Watch or Garmin LiveTrack allow you to share your real-time location so that people know where you are throughout your workout, even in more remote areas. 

If you’re ready to kickstart your summer fitness journey, Shift can help keep everything on track. It’s a desktop browser that lets you run your favorite apps side by side—so your health tools can live right alongside your email, calendar, and productivity platforms. Whether you're scheduling workouts, planning meals, or just trying to stay organized, Shift makes it easier to keep wellness in the mix. These simple wins stack up fast, and lead to real momentum. 

This summer, let the tech do the busywork so you can focus on soaking up the sunshine—and maybe a little sweat. 

Related Post: What is Shift Browser? One Window for Everything You Do Online