As self-quarantines, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders continue as coronavirus safety measures, millions of people are confined to their homes every single day. Being stuck at home is a huge change in routine, which can cause extra stress and concern in one’s life. Often, when stressed or worried, exercising is an excellent way to get some energy out and focus your mind on something else. Without fitness centers and gyms, it can be very challenging to remain physical activity and keep your body moving. Sedentary behavior and low levels of physical activity can have adverse effects on the health, well-being, and quality of life for many people. Quarantine, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders can also cause additional stress and add to mental health problems. Participating in physical activity as relaxation and stress-releasing technique can help protect your health in these uncertain times.
Here are some of our tips to help you stay active, while staying safe during the coronavirus pandemic—and don’t forget to carry the Silent Beacon wearable panic button for an extra layer of safety.
- Take short active breaks during the day.
- Stand up at your desk periodically if you are able.
- Take time for yourself to relax.
- Follow an online exercise class.
- Go for a walk or run in your neighborhood.
- Carry the Silent Beacon wearable panic button.
Tips for Staying Active Indoors During COVID-19
Online workouts are a fantastic tool to get your body moving and your mind off stressful or worrisome thoughts. From Instagram lives, to Zoom workouts with personal trainers, people are finding creative ways to use technology and get their sweat on. The point of online workouts is not to let gym closures stop you from participating in physical activity. Here are our best staying active tips and get moving with Zoom and other technology platforms.
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Free Apps
There are hundreds of free apps that offer different exercise experiences. From yoga to cardio, stretching and weight lifting, there is an app out there with an exercise activity for everyone.
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Youtube Tutorials
Youtube tutorials are great tools to help you stay active during the quarantine. They are free to use and have a virtually endless library of options, allowing you to personalize your experience. There are thousands of Youtube videos out there for exercise, stretching, cardio, and more and they come with different trainers, music, lengths, and styles.
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Zoom for Group Workouts
Zoom has become the most popular platform for group video chatting. To spice up your workouts, invite your favorite gym buddies to a video chat to add extra motivation and fun into exercising together. You can also use Zoom to host virtual Zumba and dance parties. Invite your friends and family to a video chat, throw on your favorite playlist, and dance the sweat away.
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Gaming Platforms
If you have a gaming console at home like Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii, you can utilize them as an exercise outlet. There are games you can buy for your console that will get you moving and increase your heart rate while having fun. Just Dance is also a great game to purchase that allows you to engage with multiple players as you follow new dance routines and break out a sweat.
Safety Tips for Exercising Outdoors
While indoor exercise is a great option when the weather is dreary and the gyms are closed, nothing beats running on your favorite outdoor trails in the warm sun, biking with your family, or doing bodyweight exercises in your driveway. Outdoor exercise is a great way to get out of the house during the quarantine. However, when working out alone outside it is important to take proper safety precautions. Here are some important safety tips for exercising outdoors.
-Always Carry Silent Beacon
- Carry the Silent Beacon personal safety device at all times in case of an emergency. Silent Beacon is a panic button that calls any number, including 911 while sending multiple people your live GPS location in real-time via text, email, and push notifications to people who can help you in an emergency.
- The Silent Beacon is small, easy to conceal, and easy to use. Clip your Silent Beacon to your workout shorts for easy access in an emergency situation.
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Wear Reflective Clothing
It is important, especially in the dark, to wear reflective clothing that signals surrounding cars where you are. The headlights of the cars will reflect off of the clothing and bounce back to the light source. If you wear dark clothing, cars may not see you in their line of sight.
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Hydrate
Especially as temperatures increase, drinking water while working out is essential to keeping your body energized. Without drinking water, your body can not perform at its best ability. Hydration is crucial in exercise because it prevents muscle cramping and fatigue.
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Keep Track of Time
Finding time to fit exercise into your daily routine can be hard when you have a busy schedule. When planning out your workouts, keep track of the time and when the sun starts setting. As a safety precaution, try to avoid working out after the sun sets and late at night.
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Communicate Exercise Plans
When you decide to go outside for a workout, make sure you communicate your plans with a trusted friend or family member. It will be helpful for them to know when and where you will be in case of an emergency. It will give you peace of mind to know that someone is aware of your whereabouts while exercising alone.
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Headphone Volume
Most people find the best motivation through music while working out. Listening to music is a great exercising tool but can also become a hazard. If you are blasting music, it can be hard for you to be completely aware and cautious of your surroundings. When you are working out with music playing, make sure it is not too loud where you can still hear what is going on around you.
The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed many people’s workout routines. Public gyms are closed, stay-at-home orders have taken place, and people are eager to get an ounce of fresh air. You can still stay active while avoiding coronavirus symptoms, you just have to adjust your workout routine to incorporate safety precautions. Utilize available technology for video group chat exercises and popular dance games for your gaming consoles. Step outside for a refreshing workout in the sun while prioritizing your safety. Staying active during COVID-19 doesn’t have to result in coronavirus treatment, as long as you follow appropriate safety precautions and above staying active tips.
