May is kind of a funny month. It’s technically still spring, but everyone can feel the anticipation of the summer months approaching. Right around the corner are family get-togethers, road trips, outdoor concerts, barbecues, and many, many visits to amusement parks. There are also trips to the beach, or the river, that many people are going to want to take pretty soon.

Unfortunately, that means that many of us are going to have to slip into our favorite swimsuits — a thought that leaves some people shaking in their flip-flops. Many people are so scared of not looking their best while swimming or catching some sun that they furiously try to get in shape before summer arrives. Fortunately, May offers a lot of opportunities for people to get in shape through some of its fitness-minded holidays.

Today, we’re going to help our readers navigate these holidays and celebrate the 10 holidays that will give them the best chance of getting in shape for the summer months. So, if there are no further questions, let’s dig into this bevy of May fitness holidays that we think everyone will want to celebrate to get into shape for summer.

International No Diet Day (May 6th)

Now we know that many people are immediately going to scoff at the inclusion of this holiday on our “May Fitness Holiday List.” But this isn’t a day for people to go overboard and pack on the pounds by eating everything they want. Instead, it’s a holiday that brings attention to the fact that many fad diets are bunk. It also encourages people to work with their doctor to come up with changes to their diet and exercise routine that are sustainable and will help them achieve a healthy weight.

National Fitness Day (May 6th)

While people are weaning themselves off crazy fad diets on this day, they can also start to think about increasing their physical activity level. This holiday is the perfect day for people to begin that journey. As we said, people should consult with their doctor to make sure that they’re healthy enough to start a physical fitness routine, but once that’s done, they can begin to make slow, positive changes to their physical activity routine.

National Women’s Checkup Day (Second Monday in May)

This holiday encourages women to visit their doctor for a health checkup. While many women following this list may have already visited the doctor for National Fitness Day, this day is more focused on some of the diseases and conditions that affect women specifically. In other words, we think that this holiday is easily celebrated with the other holidays on this list to ensure that every woman observing is ready for the summer months.

National Lipid Day (May 10th)

Although many people may have already had their lipid levels checked on the previous holidays on this list, we feel that it’s important to reiterate a person getting this particular checkup. The word “lipids” is used to describe bad cholesterol, which can happen as a result of a bad diet or lack of exercise. It’s a good idea to have a doctor check these levels, to make sure your ticker is ready to support all of that fun in the sun.

National Archery Day (Second Saturday in May)

Many people think that archery is just standing in place, pulling back a string, and shooting arrows at a target. While that may technically be true, it kind of downplays the physical discipline that’s needed to perform. Learning how to shoot an arrow can help build upper body strength, improve breath control, and improve posture. In other words, archery takes a level of physicality that can improve a person’s overall general health.

National Miniature Golf Day (Second Saturday in May)

Miniature golf is another sport that looks easy to do but actually works a person’s entire body. People have to walk from one golf hole to another, line up their shots, and swing a club. Sure, it’s low-impact physical activity, but it can be a great way for people to get into the rhythm of physical activity after a winter of sitting on the couch and binge-watching television.

Bike to Work Day (May 19th)

We don’t think that we need to remind people that riding a bicycle can be a great way to get exercise. All you have to do is jump on a bike and head out to work on this day. If that isn’t feasible, then you should take the time to ride a bike around the neighborhood or ride a stationary bike at the gym. All of these are great ways to get on the road to fitness.

National Scavenger Hunt Day (May 24th)

Anyone who scoffs at the idea that we should put this day on our May Fitness Holidays List evidently has never tried to perform a scavenger hunt. When you’re on a scavenger hunt, you have to cover a large area looking for stuff — and this often requires a lot of bending and running around. I don’t know about you, but that sounds an awful lot like physical activity, so go ahead and use this fun activity to get into better shape.

World Lindy Hop Day (May 26th)

The Lindy Hop might be a dance that’s been around since the late 1920s, but it offers a whole lot of cardiac benefits to anyone performing it. After all, this dance requires a whole lot of movement and really gets the heart pumping. That means that we can all dance our way to better health, just in time for summer!

World No Tobacco Day (May 31st)

This holiday is observed on the last day of May and is probably one of the most important holidays on this list. It’s a day that encourages people to quit smoking for the day — and when we say day, we mean a full 24-hour period of time. Hopefully, this will kick-start any attempt at quitting that people might want to start. The benefits of quitting smoking are numerous, so everyone should take the holiday to quit smoking and get their body ready for summer fun.

Okay, folks, this concludes our article on 10 May Holidays To Help The Average Person Get In Shape For Summer. We hope that all of these holidays help everyone get in better shape for the summer months. After all, there’s a season of volleyball, softball, swimming, and other sports just waiting to keep us engaged. Now, let’s get out there and get ready for summer.