Let’s face it. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle when the world is grappling with the uncertain times caused by the novel Covid-19 pandemic comes with its fair share of challenges. Working from home, for most of us, is operating in uncharted territory. Unlike what we are used to, staying fit during the lockdown involves more indoor activities because the outdoor ones are unsafe, and understandably so, due to the coronavirus. And while it might be tempting to curl up on your couch and binge Netflix, more than ever, it is incredibly crucial that we stay active.
Staying fit is not only physically beneficial, but it has its mental and health benefits. And as the outdoor activities are rendered unsafe, taking your physical well-being during these unsettling times could be a great start for you. Even simple exercise can reduce stress and anxiety. And whereas governments continue to impose restrictions on movement, there are still plenty of safe, responsible, and effective ways to stay fit during the lockdown. Let’s get started.
1. Pilates
During these unsettling times, you might feel like everything has spun out of control. All that we are used to has been taken away, and we cannot say for sure how long it will last. In the U.K, for instance, some tier systems allow you to go outdoors once a day with at most one close family member. But just because you are allowed outside once a day doesn’t mean you only have to exercise once. You can take advantage of a workout app to set your fitness goals, track progress and immediately see your achievements. And you can do all that while in the comfort of your living room. With such apps, you will be surprised how much you can do around the house with minimal fitness equipment. And it could be sit-ups, press-ups, squats, among others.
2. Running
You can use the one day you have outside to make runs on the track – but make it a good one. Running has never been obsolete. It is one of the easiest ways to stay fit during lockdown because it can liberate you especially now that you spend the rest of the day indoors. And despite the lockdown, parks remain open for exercise and outdoor activity.
3. Yoga
Yoga is an excellent way to stay fit, especially for athletes looking to remain in shape during the lockdown. Yoga is an excellent choice of exercise as it conditions your body for strength, balance, and flexibility, as well as providing a sense of mental calmness. And while yoga classes aren’t permitted yet during the lockdown, there are plenty of online tutorials you can take advantage of.
4. Cycling
It might be time you dusted down your bike and cycled the perimeter of your locale to avoid the spread of the virus. And it doesn’t stop there: Instead of taking a car ride to buy groceries, you might consider cycling to the supermarket and fetch your essentials. Investing in a good quality bike, helmet, and cycling gloves will help you make cycling an ongoing part of your lifestyle.
5. Eat a balanced diet
Staying fit not only implies physical exercise but also what we take in to boost the energy level in our bodies. And while people have plenty of time at their hands, the likelihood of putting on more weight has increased. This has further highlighted the importance of having a healthy diet.
With the lockdown, most people are struggling with boredom and are having groundhog days. As a result, some eat to reward themselves or unconsciously eat plenty of snacks for convenience while they work from home. And as cliché as that might sound, eating a balanced diet has become more important than ever.
6. Get enough sleep
Sleep conditions your body through refreshment and restoration of muscle and energy. If you get enough sleep, your body gets the opportunity to conserve energy and repair worn-out muscles that you worked out during the exercise. An adult needs at least 8 hours of sleep every night for the body to function properly.
The Covid-19 pandemic has cast the world into the uncertainty that we cannot point out when it will last. Restrictions on movements have been imposed, lifted, imposed again, which means that we have to improvise on keeping up with our daily routine while trying to keep the virus from spreading further. And with the endless fitness tricks mentioned herein, you can’t run out of ways to stay fit during the lockdown. From yoga tutorials and online workouts to simple exercise routines such as home walking, press-ups, sit-ups, and squats, the priority right now should be to stay fit and healthy and protect your loved ones.