Want To Stay Fit During Quarantine? Here’s How
During this coronavirus outbreak, it’s more important than ever to maintain our physical health. Physical fitness can reduce anxiety, boost our mood, and reduce stress during this challenging time. But how can we do that when we’re spending less time outside and more time cooped up indoors?
Many areas have issued guidelines on closing down gyms, which makes sense if we want to prioritize safe social distancing. So, how can we keep fit during quarantine?
Below are some of our hand-picked ways to stay active at home.
Outdoor Solo Exercises
The quarantine doesn’t prohibit people from going out of their homes. You can still go for a run or walk your dog while adhering to guidelines like practicing social distancing. Here are some outdoor exercises you can do during quarantine:
Walk your dog. Staying home is easy for humans, but it isn’t great for our furry friends. Our pets still need exercise to keep their energy levels at bay. Taking your dog out for a walk is an excellent opportunity to get some exercise for both you and your pet. Be sure to stay a safe distance away from dog-walkers!
Go for a run. If you used to complain that you didn’t have time to go jogging, now’s your chance. Grab your comfiest pair of sneakers and go out for a run. Jogging can be intense or light, depending on the kind of exercise that you want. Jogging is a straightforward way to get in shape, and it gets easier the more you run.
Go cycling. Cycling is typically done in groups, but cycling solo can be equally fun. To encourage yourself to bike more, you could even decide to ditch your car and other means of public transportation for a week. It’s better for the planet and helps you distance from other people if you had taken the bus or subway. The next time you buy groceries, take your bike!
Exercises for Small Spaces
Not everyone likes exercising outdoors. The thought of being seen all sweaty doesn’t do it for some. While we don’t have access to the gym with its equipment, we have to make do with what we have. Fortunately, working out at home is a lot easier thanks to the Internet and easily purchased light equipment like weights.
Whether you prefer following exercise videos on YouTube or making your own low-impact home exercise plan, you can do some home exercises even in small spaces:
Do some yoga. Yoga isn’t just stretching! If you’ve never done it before, there are plenty of free online yoga classes. You can even find them on YouTube, with intensities varying from beginners to experts. For example, beginner yoga classes last only a few minutes and focus more on holding positions than actually contorting your body.
Lift weights. If you’ve gotten used to lifting weights at the gym, you shouldn’t stop just because of the coronavirus. Lifting weights should still be part of your daily exercise routine. If you have space, you should consider getting large lifting equipment. If you don’t, small dumbbells and kettlebells work just fine. You could also incorporate weights to other exercises like squats and planks to target those core muscles.
Try Pilates. Pilates is another great home exercise with lots of free online videos available. Pilates trains your body to be more flexible and is excellent for people who want to improve their posture.
Play video games. Yes, we’re serious. Some people call it exergames or gamercise — either way, we think it’s pretty awesome. You can still enjoy playing video games while being active. You can play on your own, but playing with family members is more fun. These games are usually dance or sports-related. If you have a virtual reality headset, you can play immersive games like Beat Saber.
Use your stairs. Doing steps is the easiest exercise on this list. Use the stairs in your home or your apartment building. Run up and down them several times to get your heart pumping. You could even combine this with your jog for an even better workout.
Jump rope. Jumping rope might look like a childhood pastime, but there’s a reason why professional boxers and bodybuilders still incorporate it into their exercise routine. Jumping rope is an excellent cardio exercise that targets the muscles in your arms and legs. You might want to move your coffee table a bit farther for this one, though. You don’t want to knock things over with your jump rope!
Home exercise machines. Got a stationary bike or a treadmill in your garage just sitting there? It’s time to bring ’em out! Turn your home into a mini gym by jumping on your stationary bike, elliptical, or treadmill. They’re great for toning your arms and legs.
Convenient Home Exercises
Clean the house. Remember that garage you said you’d clear out, or that kitchen you said you would scrub clean? You didn’t have time for it before because you were too busy with work, but now you have no excuse! Cleaning the house is a convenient way to get things done while getting exercise. Put on your favorite music and sweep and scrub away!
Do some gardening. Does your lawn look abandoned? Do your plants need pruning? Take out your trowel and put on your gloves! Spending an afternoon gardening will get you the light physical activity that you need to stay healthy. Gardening is also a great way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D.
Why you need to stay active during the quarantine
Being home all day makes it easier for us to become lazy and lose interest in staying active. Lounging around all day in front of your television without any physical activities can result in a lack of motivation, and ultimately, depression. Keeping yourself healthy right now is very important to maintain a healthy mental and physical state.
You don’t have to stop working out because the coronavirus pandemic has forced the rest of the world to stop. In fact, your work-from-home schedule gives you more time to exercise. Or, if you’re a student, you’ll have fewer school functions, so now is the best time to catch up on your fitness. If you exercise every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, you’re less likely to get sick and more likely to recover.
