I hope you all are doing well. Things have been getting much harder this week for me personally, and I’m sure it’s the same for many of you. I’m trying to keep up an exercise routine because I know it will help me feel better amidst all the bad news in the world right now. Because exercise has been so helpful for me, I thought I’d share a list of 10 fitness goals you can work towards while social distancing.
1. Try a new workout style.
There are tons of free workout videos online. Search YouTube for a fitness style you’ve been wanting to try, like pilates or zumba, and you’re sure to find a free routine. Many local fitness studios are also offering classes online for free or reduced rates.
2. Create a regular yoga practice.
Yoga has so many benefits for the body & mind, and makes a great addition to any fitness regimen. Try making yoga a regular part of your fitness routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week, find what works best for you and stick to it.
3. Work your way into a new yoga pose.
Try out a new, challenging yoga pose. Don’t try to do the full pose, but instead start with a modification that works best for you. Keep working on the modification, working your way closer to the full pose overtime. Need inspiration? Start here.
4. Work on your plank.
Try to work on holding your plank for x amount of time, whatever length you’d like to work towards. To do this slowly and safely, shoot for adding 10 seconds a week as a starting goal until you reach your final goal.
5. Do the splits.
Working your way towards doing the splits can be a very long, and slow process. It will take a long time to get there but you can get started with some stretches to slowly start to lengthen your muscles. Follow along with this video, or for the middle splits click here.
6. Run a mile.
Not a runner? Start by working your way up to one mile. You can do it! There are a lot of “Couch to 5k” running programs across the internet, or you can follow this 4-week beginner running program. Running can seem like such a challenge, but working your way up from intervals of walking and running makes it so much easier.
7. Try HIIT
High Intensity Interval Training or (HIIT) is a workout style where you vary your regimen by alternating between periods of higher and lower intensity. This is a great workout style for people who are pressed for time. Because you have short periods of high intensity, you can get in an effective workout in a short amount of time, often 20 minutes or less. You can learn more about HIIT here.
8. Build your endurance.
Focus on an exercise or area of your body you’d like to work on and try to increase your reps or length of the exercise for that area.
9. Learn the choreography to your favorite song.
Dance is a great cardio workout. Find a song you love and work on the choreography to the music video or live performance of that song. This is a great excuse to deep dive back into the early aughts. You’re welcome.
10. Walk 10,000 steps a day.
Maybe the goal will be smaller for you, and that’s okay. It’s going to be hard to get our steps in while we’re stuck at home, but maybe you can take a few extra trips up and down the stairs throughout the day or get outside for a walk. The point is to try to keep moving, and get in as many steps as possible, while we’re being more sediatry since we’re stuck at home.
*Obviously some of these activities will be easier than others, depending on what equipment, and what kind of space you have access to at home. Please practice social distancing and observe any local guidelines when exercising outdoors. Don’t start a new exercise program without first consulting your physician to make sure it’s safe for you to do so.
Is there another goal you’re working on? Let me know in the comments!
Stay healthy!