Exercise and activity are crucial for physical, mental and emotional health, but there are times when going to the gym doesn’t seem like the best idea. You may want to avoid cold, flu or COVID-19 germs. If you don’t live in a large community like Sedgebrook, you may not want to leave your house to travel to the gym. Icy conditions and cold temperatures may keep you inside. To help your mind stay sharp and your body active, we’ve listed some ways to stay active at home. Try any or all that fit into your lifestyle and level of ability.
Why Should I Work Out When I’m Stuck at Home?
Regular workouts maintain your endurance and muscle mass. If you increase your fitness sessions, you can grow stronger and boost your stamina, and greater muscle mass will help you grow your balance and avoid falls. A sedentary lifestyle makes you feel more tired and sluggish. Though it may seem counterintuitive, becoming more active will increase your energy levels. Your cardiovascular and pulmonary health will also improve. Good exercise habits can help delay or even prevent several chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, dementia, osteoporosis, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Additionally, exercise has positive effects on your mental health. The increased endorphins that come with a vigorous workout session can reduce stress and anxiety levels, help you sleep better, and improve your self-image.
5 Ways to Stay Active at Home
If you’re avoiding the gym to steer clear of germs during the colder months, you clearly value your health and wellbeing. So you don’t want to lose out on all the benefits you can see from physical activity. You may just have to modify your routine to your surroundings.
1. Stand More
When we’re stuck at home, we tend to sit more than we do when we’re out and about. Keep that in mind. Every half-hour or so, stand while you’re watching television or reading.
2. Walk Around
Even if you live in a smaller apartment, you can get your steps in. You can create a route around your space or simply march in place. Call a loved one and walk while you’re talking on the phone. If you don’t have mobility restrictions or chronic diseases, research suggests seniors should aim for 7,000–10,000 steps per day.
3. Dance It Out
Dancing offers an effective cardio workout. And if you choose happy music to dance to, you receive an added boost to your mental health. In the privacy of your own residence, you can break out all your moves without worrying about who’s watching.
4. Try Some New Online Workouts
Trainers are putting video workouts online, so you can go through a routine with the help of their guidance. Look for a type of workout and a duration that suits your needs. You can choose a type of physical activity you know you like or try something new. We’ve listed a few suggestions of workouts for seniors on YouTube:
- 10-Minute Low-Impact Cardio
- 20-Minute Total Body Workout
- 25-Minute Chair Yoga
- 20-Minute Tai Chi
- 20-Minute Fat-Burning Workout
5. Find the Fitness Potential in Your Residence
You may not have gym equipment at home, but with a little ingenuity, you can get many of the same effects. Water bottles or soup cans can be used as hand weights. Grab a dining chair for chair yoga or chair tai chi. Use steps and stairs to give your cardio workout an added boost. Physical wellness is just one dimension of our overall wellness initiatives at Sedgebrook. If you’d like to learn more about how community residents stay active, engaged and purposeful each day, reach out to us. A member of our team would be happy to tell you more about our rich lifestyle.