Sarah Guirguis It’s about time we begin talking about fitness again. I don’t know about you but I sat around on a couch at home for months last year and by the time we were all re-engaging society again, my excuses sounded something like this – “It was a rough year so I’m taking things slow” or “It’s finally summer and I have to spend all my time lying on a beach somewhere.” If you relate to this, this article is for you. Here are a few simple ways we can begin approaching fitness again.
Walk whenever you get the chance
I’ve been doing this thing where I, on purpose, park five minutes away from whichever venue I’m heading toward so that I have to walk from and back to the car. If you have a free hour during the morning or afternoon, you could also walk around your neighborhood while vibing to your favorite music or reflecting on recent life decisions, whatever floats your boat. If you’re planning to catch up with a friend, instead of going to coffee or sharing a meal, you can invite them to walk around with you for a bit. Lastly, if you have the option to skip the elevator and take the stairs, convince yourself to do the latter.
Take five or ten minutes in the morning to stretch
This will energize your body at the beginning of the day, so that you naturally become more inclined to move around or stand up rather than sit all day. It is also very beneficial to your mental health as it allows you to connect with your body and helps you become present and kick off your day with a fresh start.
Discover types of exercise that you enjoy
That could be ballet, pilates or cardio, among many types to choose from. Feel free to try and figure out what you enjoy the most and then make time for it weekly, if not, twice or three times a week. If you’re the type to get bored with routines easily, you can invite friends to join you to make this time more entertaining.
Physical weekend activities
I know many of us will be tempted to skip this step but here it is anyway. Consider doing fun activities with your friends, such as Paddle Tennis, squash, swimming and horseback riding.
Less screen time
We all know that the more time we spend watching television, scrolling through Instagram on our phones and watching movies on a laptop, the more likely we are to spend hours sitting still or lying on a bed. The less screen time in our day, the more likely we are to engage in more meaningful activities that contribute to our physical well being.
