Staying Active During the Pandemic
Let’s face it—this period has been extremely difficult for most of us. Stress, anxiety, and isolation have become part of our daily reality, driven by lockdowns and uncertainty in many professional sectors.
For many, being stuck at home creates a sense of helplessness or the feeling of wasting time. But despite these challenges, it’s still possible to find a silver lining.
Finding the Positive in a Crisis
As a kinesiologist, I can tell you that this unusual time can actually be an opportunity. More time at home means more time for yourself. Why not take control of your health and start—or continue—moving?
Physical activity plays a direct role in preventing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and more. It’s also a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety【1】. Moving your body can enhance cognitive performance, reaction time, attention span, and problem-solving ability. Studies show that as little as 20 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per day is enough to reap these benefits【2】.
Tips for Getting Started
Maybe you planned to use this period to get healthier, but closed gyms, equipment shortages, and long delivery delays made you lose your motivation. Don’t worry—it’s not too late to begin. Here are a few simple tips to help you get active at home:
Choose a Realistic Timeframe and Do What You Enjoy
Make sure your workout time doesn’t feel like a chore. Think about the benefits to your physical and mental health. You don’t need to work out for 60 minutes—15 to 20 minutes daily is enough to start.
Schedule Your Workouts
Build a routine and add your activities to your calendar. A morning walk, an afternoon jog, or a 20-minute living room workout—whatever works for you. Example: on even days, go for a walk or jog; on odd days, do a home workout. Create rules like “no TV until I’ve exercised.”
Involve Family or Friends Virtually
Isolation can be tough. Stay social by inviting your family to join your workouts, or schedule video calls to exercise with friends. Having a workout buddy boosts motivation!
Take Back Control
Ultimately, the power is in your hands. Small steps can make a big difference.
Sources
[1] Gouvernement du Canada, Une Vision commune pour favoriser l’activité physique et réduire la sédentarité au Canada : Soyons actifs, 2020, URL : https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-publique/services/publications/vie-saine/soyons-actifs.html#p1
[2] Julia C. Basso and Wendy A. Suzuki, The Effects of Acute Exercise on Mood,Cognition, Neurophysiology, and Neurochemical Pathways: A Review, Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA, 2017.