Social distancing is the order of the day. With gyms, fitness centers, swimming pools and sport clubs temporarily shut, our daily fitness regimen has been thrown out of gear. The morning jogs, evening walks, cycling, shopping or walking the dog – all the fun physical activities too, have reduced or stopped
The mind is stressed, anxious and trying to cope with this new way of life. Stressed people try to calm this restlessness by gorging on junk food, slouching on the couch and watching TV all day, drowning themselves in caffeine, chocolate, tea and colas, or venting their frustration at their families. Their health further suffers.
In such a situation, physical activity can do a great deal of good while staying mentally fit is of equal importance. People who are physically active or exercise regularly are more energetic and positive in life; they eat well, sleep soundly and feel good about themselves. And the side-effects of getting a trim, toned and healthy body adds to their self-confidence.
But people make all sorts of excuses to avoid a daily workout. The solution is just to have fun on your feet. Dance – any kind of hop-skip-jump-twirl-or-twist to some peppy numbers will do. Pull in the family for extra fun and laughter. Play with kids – they know a thousand ways to expend energy. Give your house a makeover – scrub, clean, mend, polish, paint, change the settings, discard unwanted items - you are sure to be pleased with your efforts.
For those who have never had any form of disciplined exercise in their daily schedule, this is a good time to start. Try different forms of exercise. There is a plethora of online classes for all kinds of exercise forms. Take the beginner courses and start off slowly. A ‘start’ is half the job done. The other half is to stay motivated and keep going. So here are some tips to help on that front:
- Find a fitness buddy. Company and competition both will help the cause.
- Buy an activity tracker and sign up with a fitness app. Numbers, reminders, tips and feedback do help one stay on track.
- Try a different form of workout each day and alternate between moderate and mild exercise forms.
- Sign up for personalized online classes to learn the right moves from experts.
- Participate in fitness-focused public events. These events are now happening online wherein you connect and compete with other participants by logging in the data on your activity tracker. And for some added motivation, sign up and be a part of the upcoming IDBI Federal Future Fearless marathon to be held on August 15, 2020.
So start today and discover a new YOU!
