With everything else going on over the past year, you may not have been able to keep up with your fitness routine. And even with COVID-19 vaccination picking up, it still may be a while before you feel comfortable heading back to the gym or attending your favorite fitness class.
Not to worry!
The best day to rediscover your fitness focus is always “today,” and that’s especially true right now—with spring here, the weather improving, and outdoor activities more possible. Plus,
While there are plenty of offerings these days for socially distanced group outdoor fitness activities, the safest and easiest options are still those you can do on your own or with a partner from your household. Here are just some ideas.
1. Go for a brisk walk.
We’ve previously discussed the many benefits of walking, and they’re even more essential in this moment. Regular walking can lower your risks for conditions that make you more vulnerable to serious COVID-19 (such as obesity) while also helping to offset some of the pandemic’s common consequences (such as depression).
2. Take a nice hike.
Want to get your heart rate up even more? A vigorous hike will do the trick, plus it will let you enjoy some of the nature you’ve been missing for months. Use the “talk/sing test” as a rough gauge of whether your intensity is high enough. You should be moving vigorously enough so that you can still talk—but not sing.
3. Join the resistance.
Resistance bands are an affordable and great way to add all sorts of different exercises to your outdoor routine. Use them to do bicep curls, upright rows, leg lifts, shoulder extensions, and dozens of other exercises in a park or your own backyard. They’re hard to beat as a versatile, mobile, affordable piece of equipment.
4. HIIT up the park.
If you’re feeling more ambitious, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, which alternate between bursts of higher- and lower-intensity activities like squats, jumping jacks, lunges, and push-ups, require no equipment and can be done in your favorite local outdoor area.
Besides the exercise itself, there are some important things to remember when it comes to staying safe during outdoor fitness. These are some additional tips to keep in mind as you keep in stride.
5. Nothing to sneeze at.
Have allergies? Check local pollen counts, try to avoid windy days, exercise at non-peak pollen hours, and shower well after you come home.
6. Don’t Feel the Burn
Sunscreen is not just for summer. Remember to use whenever you’re planning outdoor activities and apply it before leaving the house.
7. Keep on Drinking
Dehydration can happen quickly, so bring plenty of water with you, especially if you won’t be near any places to refill.
8. Facial Recognition
Even if you’re not planning to be near others, in the COVID-19 era it’s still vital to have a mask to pop on in case physical distance becomes hard to maintain.
