Staying active and healthy doesn’t always have to be some elaborate gym workout or long marathon run. When starting out with exercise, an important tip we recommend is to make it fun. It’s important to find some kind of enjoyment in what you’re doing, otherwise, you are more likely to quit or break your newfound fitness routine. We also understand that not everyone has access to expensive fancy gym equipment, especially when starting out. So, we’ve put together five mood-boosting ways to keep active at home. These ideas are easy and fun, and will (hopefully) make you feel excited and motivated to start getting fit.
One bonus of exercising at home is that there is no self-consciousness and worry about other people watching you. So, why not make the most of that freedom and go all-out with a dance party. For some, it may be difficult to play loud music because of nearby neighbours, so it may be helpful to get out the headphones and do it in a silent-disco style. This is a great activity to do with the family as well. Take the time to create a playlist full of all the songs that make you feel energized and excited and dance it out!
Thanks to new technology we are now able to count our steps simply with our phone or smartwatch. Set yourself a challenge of about 10 000 steps a day, which is the typical doctor’s recommendation, and see how many you can get done without leaving your house. You may have to get creative with how you complete them, but setting yourself a fun little goal like this will keep you moving, and give you a great sense of achievement at the end of the day when you complete it.
Youtube tutorials may be an obvious one, but there are so many great resources online now for getting fit at home, and heaps of options for different tastes and interests. Whether you’re into yoga flows or 80’s aerobic dance workouts, the internet has everything you need. These videos are also free and typically require little to no special equipment. Have a poke around online and see what’s there!
Deep cleaning your house can kill two birds with one stone. Cleaning can often involve moving around a lot, lifting heavy things, stretching your body, and holding things upright for extended periods of time. All of these actions unintentionally provide a makeshift workout. Alongside this, you’ll be giving your home a nice thorough cleaning at the same time. So, at the end of the day, you’ll feel accomplished in the fact that your house is squeaky clean, and you completed a nice little workout along the way.
Not everyone has access to a yard or garden, but if you do, gardening is a great way to get outside and move your body, while also getting some recommended vitamin D. Much like cleaning, gardening involves moving and stretching your body in different ways that you probably don’t even realise is exercise. Gardening also keeps you in touch with nature and gives you purpose and responsibility when caring for your plants or veg patch. This might also be a fun family activity to get your children involved with.
Have fun!