It’s no secret that the world is a little overwhelmed because of the troubling situation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than worrying about things that are out of our control, we should focus on something we can control such as our overall health and fitness. 

For those who are lucky enough to be staying at home during this crisis, here’s how you can stay fit and take extra care of your health.

Get enough rest and sleep
Aside from getting proper nutrition, you can improve your immune system by getting 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep. Stick to a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up around the same time every night and morning respectively. If needed, take a 15- to 30-minute afternoon nap during the day.

If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, try practicing a relaxing bedtime ritual without your gadgets and bright lights. Also, try to avoid stimulating activities such as watching horror movies or doing an intense workout right before sleeping.

Consult with a fitness coach
Before proceeding with an exercise program, consult a professional fitness coach to make sure it’s the right program for you. An exercise program typically depends on your age, health history, current health condition, fitness level, goals, and other special considerations. Getting a recommendation from a professional can help avoid injuries and help you ensure desired results.

Create a basic exercise space
Choose a safe and comfortable area in your home where you can move freely. Some recommended areas are inside your bedroom, living area, or garden.

When choosing an area, consider the gym equipment you’ll be using for your workout. 

Depending on your exercise routine, some of the equipment you may want to consider are dumbbells, rubber tubing, medicine ball, foam roller, mini or regular stability ball, booty band, and a body leverage training equipment (TRX, record mini). Regardless of your routine, always use an exercise mat for safety, especially for barefoot exercise training like yoga or core exercises, or full-body weight strength training and low-impact cardio.  

If you already have an existing exercise space at home, always make sure that you sanitize the whole area and disinfect all the exercise equipment before and after use.

Consider online workouts
Access free quick and basic workouts online like GoWell’s Workout from Home Series on Facebook. You can also subscribe to online workouts classes such as HIIT training, Pilates, yoga, or indoor cycling. Try online personal training sessions, especially if you have an existing personal trainer who knows your body and fitness condition. If you want to work out online with your friends, try group workout meetings using Zoom or other video conference apps.

Hopefully, with your health and fitness routines in place, you’ll have some semblance of normalcy during these difficult times. Stay safe, everyone!