As more people across the world are told to stay home in self-quarantine due to COVID-19, it’s easy to start to feel cabin fever. It is important to get moving when you can; studies have shown that exercise promotes better mental health and lowered stress. While gyms, pools and yoga studios may be closed during social distancing, there are lots of activities you can do at home. Here are some ideas.
Watch a YouTube video
There are tons of free videos, created by professionals and amateurs alike for different workouts of all fitness levels. You can find workouts suitable for limited space, with equipment or just using your body weight, from high-intensity exercise to low-impact yoga.
Click here for a high intensity workout
Click here for a low-impact yoga workout
Make your breaks active
If you are working from home, consider taking “active breaks” – instead of a 10 minute coffee break, challenge yourself to do 10 minutes of activity. This can be cleaning or gardening, walking around your house or even 10 minutes of small exercises. Then you can enjoy your coffee after!
Stand up
It’s easy to sit or lie down all day when you are staying at home, working or not. But perhaps the easiest way to remain active is to find excuses to stand throughout the day. It is important to interrupt your sedentary time, or the time you are sitting, with standing or active breaks. Perhaps you are thinking of baking cookies…try to do it all while standing. Or for those who are working from home, if you are able to set up your laptop on top of a tall dresser, this can even function as a “standing desk”.
Check out the World Health Organization (WHO) for more information on staying active during social quarantine…click here!
*Please consult your doctor if you are considering drastically changing your exercise regimen to ensure that it is appropriate for you.
