With vaccines rolling out, people are slowly easing back into normal life. Employees are going back to the office, lockdown restrictions are easing up, and summer plans are finally in motion. Health and wellness facilities like gyms are also opening back up again. While some people are happy to finally break a sweat on different kinds of exercise equipment, others are still reluctant to do their workout routines in a closed and public space.
In fact, medical professionals continue to advise against visiting indoor gyms and doing strenuous exercises, causing them to breathe heavily and increase the chances of transmitting and contracting COVID-19. Fortunately, gyms aren’t the only way to stay fit during the pandemic. If you’re among those reluctant to return to the gym and would rather stay fit and healthy in the comfort of your home, here are a few ways you can do so.
Do Your Spring Cleaning
Most people don’t consider cleaning as a way to get in some exercise. However, this is farther from the truth. In fact, simple activities like cleaning the windows, vacuuming the floor, or even changing your bedsheets can help you burn a few hundred calories. If you’d like to take your cleaning workout to the next level, however, all you have to do is make a few adjustments, such as stepping into lunges when mopping or vacuuming around the house or staying on your tiptoes while you organize the contents of your bookshelf.
Start a Garden
Gardening is often known for being a relaxing pastime with several health benefits. Not only does this activity allow you to get an adequate amount of Vitamin D for your daily needs, but it also helps you get the three different kinds of exercise: strength, flexibility, and endurance. This is because of the different activities that gardening entails. You’ll often find yourself squatting, twisting, carrying heavy objects, and even walking at times (when mowing your lawn).
Consider combining light and heavy gardening activities in a span of 30 to 60 minutes, as it can help you burn up to 500 calories.
Take Advantage of Technology
If you still prefer the traditional way of exercising with an exercise mat and other equipment at your side, you can use technology to your advantage to find online workout routines that suit your needs and preferences. You can also find many personal trainers online who can help you figure out what kind of exercises are best for you, make sure you have the right posture, and keep you in check during every workout.
The best thing about it is you don’t even have to leave your house, as your personal trainer can instruct you via Zoom call.
Practice Yoga
If you prefer more slow-paced forms of exercise, yoga might be for you. Despite its relaxing nature, yoga is an effective way to keep you healthy. It helps reduce stress, increase core strength and flexibility, and improves your cardiovascular health. In addition to this, you don’t need much else in the matter of equipment other than a yoga mat, making it one of the simplest ways to stay fit in the comfort of your home.
Spend Some Time Outdoors
Spending time outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean straying too far from your home. You can go jogging or cycling within your neighborhood for at least an hour at a time to burn the calories you’ve accumulated while staying home. If you’d rather experience the outdoors through your backyard, you can do that too.
If you love to play sports and have enough space in your backyard, you can even consider adding a backyard sports court so that you and the rest of the household can enjoy a safe space to play sports.
Use What You Have at Home
If you don’t have any exercise equipment lying around at home, you don’t have to worry about going out to the store and buying them to stay fit. Instead, you can use ordinary household items that are just as effective at helping you burn calories. These include water bottles, bags of flour or rice, and other weighty items you have at home. If you need something heavier to lift, you can also fill a travel bag with heavy items.
Invest in Gym Equipment
Some people find it difficult to exercise at home because they can’t find the motivation to do so or get too ambitious and end up quitting halfway. If this is the case for you, you can invest in gym equipment and create your own mini gym at home.
Staying fit at home might be a daunting task for some, but it isn’t impossible. It also doesn’t need to be limited to the traditional method of working out. You can exercise by gardening, cleaning, or even practicing yoga. As long as you’re not sedentary, your physical and mental well-being will thank you.
