How To Stay Active In Your Home
Changing times can have you feeling a little uneasy about returning to the gym however, self-isolation can be a serious blow to your mental and physical health. It is important to make a daily effort to engage in some physical activity, even when stuck at home.
With modern technology, we are lucky to have way more resources available to us. We have options from continuing online classes or teaming up with an accountability buddy and exercise together via video. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are consistent and have fun doing it. We won't be successful if we are forcing ourselves to do an activity that feels like a chore.
* Find an activity you already enjoy
Chances are good that there are active things you already like to do. Things like gardening, cooking, walking pets, or playing with your child can all be the first step to getting active.
Don’t force yourself into an activity you dread. Just because you have started one particular activity, you don’t have to continue to only do that. Figure out what you enjoy and turn it into a workout to get your body off the couch and moving.
You can turn habits you enjoy into a workout by adding steps. If you are waiting for your water to boil while cooking, raise your heels off the ground repeatedly for a quick calf workout. While you are in the kitchen, grab some unopened soup cans and lift your arms over your head a few times. Get creative and find ways to turn daily activities and things you enjoy doing into a quick workout.
Being active doesn’t mean you are required to complete a full circuit workout with special equipment and a certified trainer holding your hand. Start with small things like adding extra movements to your day. Anything will help, the more you move, the more you will feel like moving.
* Try free apps
There are many free apps that will help you find a routine or exercise you enjoy from home. Most of these apps have a setting to allow you to not only select the duration and the difficulty level of the workouts but also change their intensity and shift the focus to a specific part of the body. Some apps have workouts that only last 7minutes, others focus on yoga and have hundreds of workouts, and the more you train the more exercises that are available to you.
* Free Youtube Channels
Youtube is my personal favorite for all the knowledge that can be found and among other things, there is a huge collection of workouts of any type of activity, fitness level, length of time and different instructors so you can find the perfect mix and fit for your needs and change it up as your mood and fitness level change.
* Enjoy the outdoors
Don't forget your four-legged friends also need to get some exercise. Walking your pets is a great way for everyone to get some exercise, and to get some fresh air. If walking your dog around the neighborhood seems boring, try driving to a park and walking there. The change of scenery may inspire you. Don't be afraid to try something new like taking a hike in Madera Canyon or Mt Lemmon. Finding new adventures can motivate you to get out of the house and get your body moving.
* Don't forget the water
One of the best and easiest ways to be more active is to drink more water. It is proven that good hydration helps you stay awake, focused, and allows your body to work more efficiently. Especially in the Arizona heat. We all need to keep up with our fluids. It’s a good idea to get a water container you can use to measure the amount of water you consume during the day.
Stay active, safe and healthy my friends.