8 simple (and we mean simple) ways to keep active at home during Covid-19 pandemic
Regular physical activity is important for all of us to stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staying physically active at home can help to maintain our physical health and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
But don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be Instagram levels of perfect fitness. According to the Institute of Public Health, here are some simple ways to keep active without even realising it.
Guidelines recommend that adults and older adults (aged over 65 years) should aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five times a week.
Children and young people aged 5-18 years should aim for an average of at least 60 minutes per day across the week.
Remember, some activity is better than none.
Break up long periods of sitting with light activity. Try walking around the house, get up each time an advert comes on the TV, or walk up and down the stairs.
Move to your favourite music.
Try to stand or move around the home during calls or reading a book.
Briskly walking or moving around the home or garden for 10 minutes two or three times a day, vacuuming and brushing floors will get you moving.
Try to do seated exercises such as air punches or marching legs.
Use a tin of beans or a jar of carrots as weights for upper body exercises.
Build-in strength exercises by doing push-ups against a wall, the kitchen counter or on the floor.
Perform yoga or simple stretching to help maintain your flexibility. Deep breathing and mindfulness can also reduce anxiety.
