How to Stay Active at Home

As important as social distancing is, it can also have negative effects on your physical and mental well-being. Staying home without your normal activity outlets like school, work, and the gym can diminish your activity levels. Here are some of our tips to help you pass the time while being active.

How Much Activity Do You Need?

Experts recommend an average of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. If you are training intensely, you can dial that back to 75 minutes. But, to be honest, most of us are probably feeling a sense of accomplishment for just changing out of our pajamas, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you are able to accomplish 150 minutes of exercise, great! If not, it’s not the worst thing in the world.

It may be easier to focus on simply incorporating movement into your everyday life. Any activity is better than no activity and can provide health benefits that the latest Netflix series can’t.

Sit Less

One easy way to start moving more is to sit less. Sitting too much has negative effects on your health and wellness and you can combat that by making sure you get up at least once per hour, whether you’re working from home or bingeing your favorite TV series. Taking a few minutes to walk around your house or play with your pet can help you get more movement in and doesn’t require much effort on your part. It’s also not a bad idea to alternate between sitting and standing. You may want to invest in a standing desk as it can make a big difference in how you feel.

Take the Stairs

If you have stairs in your apartment building, it’s time to put them to good use. Climbing stairs is an effective cardiovascular workout and can help maintain your fitness levels, even if you are climbing for as little as one minute at a fast pace per day. So skip the elevator and take the stairs.

Dance It Out

The state of the world can leave you feeling pretty overwhelmed. One way to improve how you feel both physically and mentally and to turn up your favorite music and have a dance party. Dancing is good for your heart and helps maintain fitness and can qualify as moderate to high-intensity exercise. Once you add in the boost of endorphins your body releases while dancing, you can’t deny that it will make you feel great. This is also a fun way to bond with other members of your household or even virtually!

Play with Your Kids and Pets

There is no time like the present to make some new memories with your family. Use movement as a bonding activity, whether it’s playing ball, having an athletic competition, or just going for a walk in the fresh air. You will all feel better after some time in the sun!

Move for Your Health

There’s no need to put added stress or pressure on yourself to increase your activity level, but it is important that you make your health a priority even if you are self-isolating at home. For more information on how you can stay healthy, click here to contact us and be sure to maintain your regular chiropractic appointments with your local Brooklyn chiropractors!