Coronavirus seems to be the main topic on all of the news stations lately, and we are all beginning to feel a little bit stir-crazy after months of stay at home order and quarantine. Some of us are starting to feel the pain of not being able to get into the gym every day, while others are dealing with chronic or progressive medical conditions that require treatment.
No matter what your level of capability, it is essential to stay active during the time of coronavirus, not only for our physical but also for our mental health. With all the quarantine snacking, there is no better way to avoid “the corona 19” than with a little exercise. The US Department of Health recommends an average of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity at least five days per week.
We realize that there are many challenges in meeting this recommendation during COVID-19. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is the lack of routine. Maybe you have been snoozing your alarm and missing your Zoom workouts or are just less motivated without access to the gym. Without a method, we are less likely to follow through on our daily activity and exercise regimen. One way to help hold yourself accountable is to find a buddy to plan walks or other activities. Together you can make a plan to exercise at the same time every day, getting yourself back into the routine.
Another common reason we tend to neglect exercise is that it is not convenient. Everyone’s lives are fast-paced, and we need something quick and simple that fits into our daily life easily. For example, if you have time on your lunch break, you can use that free time to take a short walk without taking time out of your day. Or if you have a short commute to work, you can substitute that drive for a bike ride or walk one day out of the week.
Cardiovascular exercise may not be everyone’s favorite activity, but I challenge you to get out and do something as simple as a brisk walk around your neighborhood. You can challenge yourself by seeing how quickly you can walk a mile and track your progress each day. You can also push yourself by trying to increase the distance that you are walking each day. Increasing your mileage may be challenging at first, and if needed, you can break up your walks into multiple bouts throughout the day.
Dr. Cassie Zanolini PT, DPT
WWS Physical Therapy & Vestibular Rehabilitation
References:
HHS Office, & Council on Sports. (2019, February 1). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/b
