By RMHP
Working Out During Lunch? Here’s How to Clean Up
Have you started working out on your lunch break or before heading to the office? Good for you! Adding a workout into your work day is a fantastic way to make sure fitness is part of your routine, but it doesn’t come without complications.
After a workout, you might feel great on the inside, but your outsides probably don’t reflect that same feeling. Sweaty skin, crazy hair, and a red face are some of the fun things that come with a midday fitness session. Here’s how to battle them so you can get back to work.
Start with a well-stocked gym bag
The contents of your gym bag will set the foundations of your workday workout routine. Everything you need to go from funky to fresh will live in this bag. Everyone’s gym bag will look different, but here are some ideas:
- Workout clothes and shoes.
- A towel for mopping up sweat.
- Cleansing body wipes for a makeshift “shower.”
- Deodorant and/or antiperspirant.
- Facial wipes, which are especially important if you have sensitive or breakout prone skin.
- Carefully curated makeup picks. You don’t want to bring your entire collection, but pressed powder, mascara, and blush can come in handy.
- Extra socks, underwear, and other essentials.
- Perfume or cologne, if you like to use them.
- Eye drops for those times when sweat or makeup gets into your eyes.
- Dry shampoo is a lifesaver for handling sweaty hair, so stock up.
- A brush and any other hair tools you might want, like bobby pins and hair ties. Headbands can also help tame post-workout hair, so it never hurts to carry one in your bag.
Red face? There’s an easy fix for that
If your skin is red after working out, simply hold some ice or a cold water bottle on the side of your neck, near your carotid artery. It’s a quick trick to cool the blood going to your face.
You can also use the same technique on your wrists to help cool down faster.
More tips for making workday workouts work
You’ve got your gym bag ready to go, but what else do you need to know about getting back to work after a sweaty workout? Here are some additional things to keep in mind:
- If your workout clothes allow it, don’t wear underwear. Less sweat will get trapped close to your body, and you’ll have less laundry to do.
- Add a cool-down period into each workout to give your body time to recover.
- Remember, work always comes first. If something pressing comes up and you have to skip a workout, make up for it later.
- Have a plan for your workouts, so you know exactly what you’re doing and are leaving enough time for freshening up.
Speaking of plans, the next time you do a midday workout, give one of these routines a go:
30 Minute Lunchtime Workout
The Thirty Minute Workout
7 Quick and Easy Resistance Band Workouts
Get a Full-Body Workout in 20 Minutes With These Stability Ball Exercises
