The change from going to an office to working from home has significantly changed people’s lives, often in ways unexpected. One of those ways is that the decrease in activity as people are forced to work from home results in decrease in fitness and increase in weight gain.
We wouldn’t be shocked to see a decrease in fitness level when quitting an exercise program. But, the surprising part of the new work-from-home-economy is how our normal, pre-covid activities of daily living maintained a certain level of fitness, even if those activities didn’t seem difficult. Catching the stairs, hurrying across city blocks, and moving office supplies adds up, and many people are missing that in their new home-based routine.
Way to Add Movement Back In
To address this decrease in movement while working at home, you can take a few steps to add back in fitness. In order from easiest to most involved:
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drink water throughout the day, so you are up and using the restroom frequently. All steps count, and the hydration is healthy too!
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make a quick movement routine and stick to it on schedule (pushups, lunges, stretches every day at noon)
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buy dumbbells and bands, and establish a more invovled lifting routine
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join an online exercise team such as at TrainHeroic for the accountability
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find a new activity activity such as walking, jogging, hiking or biking
Execution of The New Plan
Of course, there are more involved implications to this simple list. You’ll have to do a little bit of research and planning as you change your routine. You might have to research a new bike to buy! You might have to invest in some new exercise clothes. You have my full permission to do both of those 🙂 Try out new habits and activities and see which you enjoy enough to incorporate into your every day life.
If you add a little bit of creativity and curiosity, you can find a new way to add in healthy exercise!
