It seems our collective lives have come to a screeching halt. Schools are closed, travel plans scrapped, but what about your exercise routine? It’s tempting to forget about your New Year’s fitness goals during a national crisis, but movement gives us vital mood-boosting endorphins and stress relief.
Here are six ways to get a solid workout in without leaving the house:
Free YouTube videos
The Holy Grail of technology offers thousands of free videos on just about any type of exercise you prefer. You might have to spend some time hunting around for your favorites, but the price is right. For stress relief and a fantastic stretching session, check out Yoga with Adriene, whose channel boasts over 6 million subscribers for good reason.
Dance party
Put that playlist to work and get grooving! Have the kids help you push the furniture out of the way to create a dance floor, so all of you can move to the music. Health psychologist and author, Kelly McGonigal, says moderate physical activity—of any kind, offers benefits. In her book, The Joy of Movement, McGonigal writes, “If you are willing to move, your muscles will give you hope. Your brain will orchestrate pleasure. And your entire physiology will adjust to help you find the energy, purpose and courage you need to keep going.”
DIY circuit training
Circuit training at home takes a little effort to plan the first time, but then you’ll be all set. Head to Pinterest for inspiration, or dream up the stations yourself. Use your phone’s timer for 60-90 seconds per station. Blast the music and get your heart pumping. Write out station ideas on cardstock or popsicle sticks. Movements might include burpees, jump rope, mountain climbers, tricep dips, wall sit, and star jumps.
Club Kitchness
If poking around the Internet for a workout video sounds like too much work, consider joining Club Kitchness. Marine spouse, Chrissa Benson, founder of Physical Kitchness, has created a membership site with loads of valuable resources for a healthy lifestyle. Geared towards busy moms, you’ll find at-home exercises and simple yet nutritious meal plans. A true one-stop shop.
BeachBody for every body
For a small monthly fee, BeachBody on Demand offers a variety of programs, from HIIT, cardio, P90X, 80 Day Obsession, and many more. All programs can be streamed and offer a free trial period. No matter what your fitness goals, BeachBody has a program for you.
Every step counts
Even if you typically wear a FitBit, Garmin, or other step-counting accessory, you know that lounging around the house in pajamas watching the news unfold is unlikely to help you meet your step goal. To set yourself up for success, get dressed in workout clothes, even if you don’t plan to leave the house. You are more likely to make trips up and down the stairs, collecting laundry or playing in the yard with the kids when you are dressed for fitness. Aim for 7,000-10,000 steps per day to ensure adequate physical activity.
