Five Simple Ways to Stay Active During Quarantine
I gotta admit something - exercise is keeping me sane. I know, I'm being one of those overachiever-types during this whole thing, but I know I need to stay active during quarantine - it's been so good for my mind and my body. I have been keeping my commitment pretty low-key - whether it's a 30 minute HIIT workout or a long walk with the family, I'm keeping myself motivated simply by reminding myself how much better I feel when I actually move my body.
I think the difference between exercising now and exercising when the world is normal (remember those days?!) is that I'm purely exercising for my mental health right now. I know the endorphins are good for me and it gives me something to do each day. A little extra perk is that it usually gives me some time to myself so I can recharge!
I've tried a bunch of different activities and I plan on trying more. I think one of the coolest thing about this whole quarantine thing is how creative people are getting with the internet. The online fitness business is thriving right now and you can find any kind of exercise you are looking for. Here are some I've tried and love.
Obé Fitness
I discovered Obe Fitness on Instagram after I saw a blogger I follow offer up a free month with a code. It was right at the start of quarantine and I figured why not! I'm so glad I checked it out. Obe offers tons of different classes - usually under 30 minutes - from HIIT to yoga to dance classes for you and your kids. The best part is that you can take live classes - they actually stream them so you can feel like you are in a class with other people! If you miss a class, you can always take saved workouts, and you can save the ones you like to do over and over. They also have great challenges and programs. I've been doing the core exercises for runners over and over again and I love it. Highly recommend! Check out instagram - you may be able to find a code, too!
Yoga With Adriene
My sisters introduced me to Yoga With Adriene. We decided to try her most recent 30 day challenge and we are right in the middle of it. I love how gently she explains everything and how she builds on the program each day. She also incorporates the mindfulness part of yoga that I miss from being in classes. It's so good. I usually do her classes with the lights off in silence and it's great for my mindset.
Map My Run
I started running again last summer and ran my first half marathon last fall. I was a huge runner in college and haven't consistently run much since. I'm so glad I got back into it. Map My Run is a great app that helps you map your routes and tracks your progress. I found a seven mile loop right by our house on the app and have been running it weekly. Running in general is so therapeutic for me. I love letting my mind wander, and I usually do some great brainstorming on my long runs. I also love seeing my body do hard things and there's nothing better than finishing a run and feeling that high.
Family walks
We've been going on family walks a few times a week. Sometimes the whole family - including Juneau - comes along, sometimes it's just me and Reese in the stroller. If nothing else, I HIGHLY recommend getting out for daily walks. They don't have to be anything special, but the change of scenery, the fresh air and the exercise will do your mind good.
Make up your own HIIT workout
After taking a bunch of HIIT classes on Obe, I've started coming up with my own circuits. This is especially easy to do when the kids are playing nearby and you're too preoccupied to follow a video class. I like to make it up as I go along, but it's usually something like this: four exercises at :30 seconds each. One low impact, one high impact, one low impact, one high impact. (Low impact can be something like squats or pushups, and high impact can be sprints or high knees, something to get your heart rate up). I do three sets of that and then come up with two more circuits. It's about a twenty minute workout AND you can be creative about it.
