Spending time at home can be fun & active with physical activity
Take a deep breath and say it with us, Canada, “We got this. Everything is going to be OK.”
There really is no way of understating it, the COVID-19 situation is obviously impacting the way we live our lives right now. However, we’re here to remind you that the best way to stay happy and healthy during these trying times is to incorporate some movement into every single day.
Bottom line: practicing physical distancing and listening to healthcare practitioners’ recommendations is obviously crucial at this point in time, and safety always comes first. But it’s also important to remember that adults over the age of 18 need 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity every week to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle, and children and youth (between the ages of five and 17) need 60 minutes each day.
Our lives are undoubtedly different right now, but we can still do everything we can to ensure our families’ bodies and minds are strong, their moods are boosted and energy levels are prime. Feeling down or stressed? Now is a great time to utilize physical activity as an outlet for you and family to be as happy and healthy as possible.
Use what you have at home to keep everyone moving
Whether you have kids, live by yourself, or even with friends, incorporating a little bit of physical activity into your daily routine can have significant benefits on your physical and mental health – and you don’t need to even leave the comfort of your own home.
From the ability to Breathe Better and Heal Better, to getting better sleep and laughing more, physical activity is the best way to make sure both your and your family’s health is as robust as possible. Obviously, it’s harder to get out and move around as we usually do right now, but that’s OK. We all have to do our part, but active time doesn’t need to be sacrificed.
To help you and your family stay safe, active and healthy, we’ve put together a list of activities that you can do in your own living room, on your balcony or in your backyard.
- Pilates or yoga
- Dance party (hello, favourite playlist!)
- Walking
- Stair climbing
- Tai chi
- Aerobics, kickboxing, HIIT, etc. (follow along to a free YouTube demo or Instagram Live)
- Ping-pong
- Basketball (if you don’t have a net, build one with materials you already have (like a waste basket)
- Mini Olympics
- At-Home workouts (like this handy Kickstarter workout or the ParticipACTION app occasion-based video series)
- Exergaming (just make sure you limit screen time)
- Housework
- Cycling on a stationary bike
- Yardwork (spring cleaning is just around the corner)
- Scavenger hunts (can be done indoors or outdoors)
- Build an obstacle course
At the end of the day, we all share a collective responsibility to our communities to practice physical distancing in order to help keep our loved ones safe. But that shared responsibility also means safely getting active each and everyday in order for everyone to maintain healthy lifestyles. Let’s not complicate things: stay active and stay healthy.
We’ll get through this together, Canada, one step at a time.