5 Ways to Stay Fit & Healthy at Home

Most people’s fitness resolutions for 2020 have gone to waster when the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world. Even now, six months into the year and we can’t still go to gyms or even get out of the house as much as we’d like. 

Still, this is no excuse to lose focus on your existing fitness routine. And, if this was the year when you wanted to get in shape, you can still achieve your goals. All it takes is determination, discipline, and being consistent in your efforts.  

Quite simple, right?

Well, it’s not exactly as easy, especially if you’re not an Instagram model. The anxiety induced by the pandemic and the fact that we had to stay about two months inside took a serious toll on our bodies and minds. 

First, Find Your Reason 

We need to be good to ourselves and see the current situation as an opportunity to get in touch with our true goals and needs. 

Start by asking yourself “Why do I want to lose weight or get in shape?”. If you dig deep enough you’ll find the real reason which may surprise you. For instance, I learned that it truly does feels good to be fit and eat healthily. 

It’s difficult to believe that this is my reason for going forward, but the feel-good state induced by exercise and healthy food is enough. In fact, whenever I slip up and eat fast-food or I’m too lazy to exercise, I feel it. I get sluggish, I can’t focus as well, and I feel bad. And, as soon as I get back to my usual routine, things return to normal. 

Of course, everyone is different. This is why, before we talk about the How-To, we must address the Why.

Once you learn your motivation, you will have the necessary drive to maintain your fitness level and general health under almost any circumstances. 

How to Stay Healthy at Home

#1: Create a Customized Exercise Routine

Exercise is important for the mind and the brain, regardless of age. It’s also a good way to beat the quarantine blues when nothing seems to make sense anymore. 

Most of us are used to a specific environment when it comes to working out. This is why we go to the gym or buy sports clothes and equipment. Still, during a lockdown, we can’t even go outside and the gyms are closed. This, combined with Netflix and other content streaming platforms, paves the way towards a sedentary lifestyle. 

Luckily, we still have the possibility to join online fitness classes or watch videos on YouTube. There is a lot of material on the topic of fitness online, so there is no reason to give up your exercise. You just need to adjust your routine so it fits the times. 

In the hope that the gyms won’t stay closed for too long, we don’t recommend going on a shopping spree for fitness equipment. Instead, you can use household items such as water bottles or canned food for barbells. We’ve also seen people use jugs of milk for weightlifting, so it depends on your level of creativity (as long as you keep everything safe).

Ideally, you should be getting around 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week, but you should adjust it to your possibilities and time schedule. 

#2: Learn Proper Nutrition

One good thing that came out of the lockdown is that people returned to cooking at home. Since restaurants aren’t open and people got bored at home. While we know some of them can’t wait to go back to eating out, many people had the time to discover (or rediscover) the benefits of cooking in-house. 

While cooking at home is healthier and promotes a different approach to eating, it’s also important to understand how nutrition works. Luckily, there are lots of resources available online. But be careful when you select those resources as not everyone is interested in providing quality advice. Start by reading scientific journals about nutrition or take a nutrition class online to understand the art of eating healthy and staying strong for as long as possible. 

In addition to that, learning a new skill is a great way to keep the brain sharp and young. 

#3: Practice Mindfulness

The constant exposure to dreadful news from all over the world and high levels of anxiety create tension and fear in everyone. High levels of stress can aggravate pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

As such, to calm the mind and ease the burden on your soul, it helps to practice mindfulness. Some people turn to Yoga practices while others try meditation. Still, mindfulness doesn’t come in just one way; it’s any practice that helps you stay present and enjoy the moment. 

Our recommendation is to try several methods and find what feels good in each. You’ll end up learning a lot about yourself and your mind.

#4: Take Up New Hobbies

Many people who found themselves on lockdown and with nothing to do decided to start a home remodeling project. While this is a great way to keep yourself busy, it’s not the best way to cope with the times – especially if you annoy your neighbors in the process. 

Still, you can try to improve the environment by creating/finding cool decorations, taking care of plants, or painting.  

Interior design and decorations could become a new hobby that keeps you active and helps improve the house. This can come in handy if you’re forced to share your living space with your office all of a sudden. 

Of course, there are other hobbies you may want to try such as knitting, sewing, pottery, restoring furniture, and more. 

#5: Focus on the Positive

Instead of constantly pondering the negatives of this global health crisis why not count our blessings? 

While we know that practicing gratitude is important in everyday life, now is more important than ever. Start by keeping a gratitude journal which can be in any format (on your phone, on your blog, in a written diary, or just as post-its). 

The secret is to keep track of the good things going on in your life and avoid taking them for granted. For instance, during the lockdown, you may be grateful that you have a comfortable roof over your head (which is not something everyone can say). Of course, everyone’s journal is different, but it’s important to find the little things that make you happy.

The purpose of this tool is to provide a boost of happiness to your day and realize things can get better. It’s also a way to calm your worries and keep negative thoughts at bay.

Wrap Up

As you can see, staying fit and healthy is an entire experience and has to involve the mind and the body. 

When we exercise, we get a jolt of feel-good chemicals (aka endorphins), but we can’t be efficient during a workout if we don’t pay attention to our diet. Also, you must maintain focus during workouts, to get the best of the experience.  

So, we shouldn’t focus on just the physical aspects of our being. We must nurture the body, the mind, and the soul through various practices. However, we also need to learn how to be good to ourselves and accept the level we’re at in life. 

We can only grow and develop through love and care!  

Oli Kang
Oli is a working mum who has a passion for teaching and all things educational. With a background in marketing, Oli manages the digital channels and content.