Answer:
Ideas for At-Home Physical Activity During Isolation
So, you’re stuck at home as part of social distancing to slow the advance of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks for
doing your part to help keep yourself and others safe! However, you may find that as the days go by, you’re getting
tired, bored, or maybe even irritable. And with gyms and schools beginning to close for the coming weeks or months, you
or your kids’ typical routines may be disrupted. The good news is that some smart physical activity in and around your
home can lift your spirits, make you feel better, help your body stay or become physically fit, and provide some helpful
structure to your days.
As the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said, “during this difficult time, it’s important to continue
looking after your physical and mental health. This will not only help you in the long-term, it will also help you fight
COVID-19 if you get it.”
Here are ten fun tips for you, and anyone else in your household, to build
some healthy physical activity during your time at home:
Go outside for a walk, run, or
bike ride, as long as your local
guidelines allow it.
Walking not only counts as physical
activity, but can make you happier and
help you overcome boredom and dread.
Take a stretch break.
If you’re working from home or spending
time watching tv or on the computer, it’s
important that you don’t sit in the same
place for too long. Get up and take a
few minutes to stretch and move around
every 30 minutes.
Try online fitness videos.
YouTube can be a great place to seek
out some free tips and demonstrations of
exercises you can do at home. GoNoodle
is a popular and free platform for kids to
get their daily dose of physical activity in
fun ways.
Do some yoga.
There are many online yoga options to try
out from the comfort of your own home.
Beyond balance and flexibility, yoga has
been shown to boost people’s moods,
lower stress and anxiety, and encourage
self-esteem, which can be especially
helpful during times like these. And in
case you hadn’t heard, yoga is absolutely
kid-friendly!
Use a fitness app on your
smartphone.
There are likely thousands of fitness apps
out there, both free and fee-based, from
strength training to yoga to pilates, and
more. An article in The Guardian reviews
a few options you have.
Put on some music and dance.
You can do this alone or with your household
members. Kids in particular may be excited to
join in this activity!
Do gardening or lawn work.
Spring has sprung, and with warmer and wetter
weather on the way, plants are growing and
trees are blooming. Tend to your garden, grow
edible plants like tomatoes, and rake up what’s
left of those leaves from fall and winter.
Start your spring cleaning.
The end of winter and the lengthening of
daylight hours may energize you for some deep
cleaning, reorganizing, and decluttering. Go
with it! The motions of cleaning, moving, and
tossing out items count both as physical activity
and they help cleanse your home of potential
microbes that cause illness, even the novel
coronavirus. It’s a win-win.
Use household items creatively.
Get creative and use the things you already
own to sneak in physical activity. Use cans to
weightlift, towels to slide on when doing lunges,
or a sturdy chair to do step-ups. Keep in mind
you can also go without any equipment and
simply use the floor, walls, and stairs (if you have
them) to get your physical activity at home.
Play time can be physical activity time.
Play active games like Twister, charades, and
hide-and-seek. Break out skateboards, roller
blades, hula hoops, jump ropes, beachballs,
and more. Toss around pet toys in the hallway
or backyard and get the dog or cat involved,
too. This way, everyone gets to have some
physical activity fun!
For more information, visit www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus
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