Working Out During Quarantine

Amidst all of the uncertainty during this time, one of the most important things that I’ve done to keep my sanity while being quarantined is maintaining a regular workout routine. Sure, I love lazing around watching Netflix all day as much as the next gal, but doing this constantly can take a physical toll on the body.

However, finding ways to exercise without having access to a gym can be tough. How can you do a leg day without a squat rack?! Fear not, #fitfam – I promise it’s not impossible. You just have to be willing to get creative!  

Here are my 5 tips for working out at home during coronavirus:

1. Go outside for a walk, bike ride or a run

No equipment needed for this one – just get your butt out the door and move (while maintaining social distancing guidelines, of course)!

One way to make this more social is by using the Strava app – you can log your running or cycling routes and share your progress with friends and followers.

2. Do a YouTube or Instagram Live workout

If you’re looking for a free way to get a good sweat in, both YouTube and Instagram have an amazing community of fitness influencers who post workout videos for all levels of fitness. Some of my favorites are POPSUGAR Fitness and Pamela Reif.

Take it up a notch by doing it with a friend over Zoom!

3. Find a workout buddy

This leads me to my next point – work out with a partner! This is one of the best ways to stay accountable with your exercise regimen, global pandemic aside. Set aside a day and time that works well for you both and block it out on your calendar.

If you really want to hold yourself accountable, send out a calendar invite to make sure you don’t forget!

4. Invest in at-home equipment

If you want to get super serious about staying fit while in quarantine, another tip is to build up your home gym and purchase some at-home workout gear. For those who live in a smaller space or apartment, some compact options include resistance bands, a yoga mat, ankle weights, dumbbells, or a pull-up bar.

However, if you don’t have the space or finances to purchase equipment – use heavy household items instead! Some alternative weights that I’ve actually used include soup cans, a milk jug, and laundry detergent.

5. Be consistent

Finally, the best tip that I have for staying fit while at home is simple in theory, but hard to do: be consistent. No matter what you choose to do, whether it’s going for a run or watching a Zumba video, it’s imperative that you do it with a regular and reliable cadence. That’s not to say that you need to do the exact same thing every day-–-but if you want to reap all the possible benefits of exercise, you need to stick to it 😉.

One way that I’ve tried to do this is by using a workout plan from the SWEAT app—there are many to choose from! Although there is a monthly subscription fee, it’s worth it to me because having a preset plan takes all of the guesswork out. The app tells me what exercises to do on what day. So easy!

That’s it! Hopefully, I’ve inspired you to get moving and add a little exercise into your daily life! If you’re looking for more ways to make staying at home a little easier, check out our 5 Ways to Make the Most Out Of Social Distancing!