How to Stay in Your Best Shape While Stuck at Home

It’s been 7 weeks since shelter in place orders started in California, and most of the country has experienced similar restrictions since March. You guys know I love my regular workouts so not being able to get out to the gym has been tough. Staying in shape during quarantine has not been easy! In between the limited physical activity and a pantry full of quarantine snacks, it has been a struggle. It’s totally understandable if you have been completely distracted and overwhelmed by everything going on in the world. After all, we are living through a global pandemic! However I find that physical activity is about more than just keeping up with appearances. My workout routines help me maintain a sense of normalcy in these crazy times, and staying active is good for both physical and mental health. I’m sharing a few of the ways I’ve been staying fit while on lockdown. Hopefully some of these help you guys get or stay motivated!

Have a Daily Fitness Schedule

I try to keep my days as structured as possible while on lockdown, since it keeps me from feeling bored. Part of that includes scheduling my workouts the same way I would if I were going to a fitness class. Some days I plan to work out in the morning or in the evenings, but the time is always scheduled and I stick to it. Staying consistent is half the battle. Everyone’s circumstances are different; it may be challenging to find time to yourself if you are swamped with work while remote, still commuting to your place of employment, or quarantining at home with small children.  If fitness is important to you, try your best to carve out time. It can be as little as 20-30 minutes if that’s all you can spare!

Find New Workouts Online

The good thing about having to work out from home is the endless array of free fitness resources. You can do ballet barre, HIIT, bodyweight workouts, yoga, anything. While some studios are charging for access to streaming workouts, there are thousands of free ones on YouTube or IG live. Popsugar and Chloe Ting are in my regular rotation on YouTube, and occasionally Core Power Yoga. When my husband joins me for a workout, we do more weight focused circuit training, usually from former MMA fighters.

Having the variation helps keep things from getting stale and keeps your body guessing. Test our a few different workout routines and see what works for you, and subscribe to a few channels you like. You’ll get notifications when new workouts are posted. And check out fitness studios and personal trainers on Instagram. It seems like there is a different IG Live workout almost every day!

Get Outside if You Can Socially Distance

If you feel safe and can maintain distance, take your workouts outside! The weather is starting to warm up and a good old fashioned walk is a great way to burn some calories and get some fresh air. Pop on a pair of ankle weights if you want to make it more challenging. We try to do a 30-45 minute walk every day to get some sun and break up the afternoon. If you want more intense cardio, take a run! I’ve never been into running, but since I’m trying to mix up my workouts and challenge my body, I’m giving it a go.

Invest in Some At Home Workout Equipment

If you haven’t already, get a little stock of at home workout equipment. Stuff like resistance bands and body bars are great for stepping up your workout intensity. Plus they are easier to store than dumbbells or bulky fitness machines. A lot of sites sold out of fitness equipment in April when shelter at home orders were in full-swing, but you should be able to find more options. And while you may be able to return to the gym in the next few weeks, that may not be the best thing to do! I’m not sure when gyms will reopen in Los Angeles, but I do plan to work out from home at least until mid-June. I just don’t want to exercise caution and avoid getting caught up in the first wave of anything when businesses start to reopen.

Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health

Physical and mental health are 2 sides of the same coin. The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on millions of people’s lives around the world. Try to make room to take care of your mental and emotional health as best you can. These are unprecedented times and our health and safety is number 1.

Hope this helps and that we are in the home stretch of coronavirus lockdown!