More people are working from home than ever before due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-town or cross-city commute has been traded in for a commute down the steps and around the corner.
Remote workers are allowed the freedom to work in their pajamas on the couch or from the comfort of their own bed if they choose. No boss is looking over your shoulder, asking what you’re working on. Lunch breaks turn into Netflix breaks, and that 5 p.m. ending time creeps closer and closer toward 4 p.m. every week.
This shift in lifestyle allows professionals unprecedented freedom to work how they want when they want, and where they want. This lifestyle change lends itself nicely to stagnation, and while it might be nice not to leave your bed for three days, the body needs motion and movement to function at peak performance.
Additionally, lockdowns around the globe have closed fitness centers and gyms. People need to get creative to stay in good physical shape. So why not combine work and exercise?
6 Best Tips on How to Move while Working Remotely in Pandemic Lockdowns
In this article, we’re going to give you some of the best tips on how you can get off your butt and start moving during your workday, so you feel more productive and improve your health, one walk at a time.
1. Schedule your exercise
Make sure you have a dedicated time to exercise. It could be an hour, 30 minutes, or even 15 minutes. Scheduling a specific time to exercise at least four days a week promotes healthy habits. If you exercise more times than not during the week, you make the task a habitual activity, and it will be harder to break your routine.
Whether it’s a walk down the street, a 30-minute yoga session, or a full hour on the treadmill, make sure you make time for your physical fitness.
2. Invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones
Exercise is better with music. Whether you like jamming out to electronic dance music while on a run, centering your inner chi with chill folk music during an Ayurveda yoga session, or cranking up the metal while doing bench presses and biceps curls, there’s no better way to get in the mood.
When you invest in a pair of wireless ANC headphones, all other noises fade away. It’s like you’re in the front row of the concert, just you and the band.
You’ll be making excuses to work out with your new pair of headphones in no time.
3. Get up every hour
Human bodies were not meant to be stagnant or to be in a sitting position continually. Doing so puts a variety of stress on your body and promotes heart disease, obesity, and many other health defects.
Simply standing up can alleviate Get off your butt for at least five minutes every hour.
Walk around the house. Do some laundry. Play fetch with your dog. Watch a snippet of your favorite YouTube video.
Whatever you do, just make sure you’re standing up while you do it. Set your alarm for every hour on the other as a reminder to get up and stretch those legs.
4. Cheat on your office chair
There’s a new trend sweeping remote workers and freelancers around the globe — the adjustable-height standing desk.
Plush and comfortable office chairs dubbed as ergonomically-friendly implore you to continue sitting as much as possible. In time, this can cause neck and back pain, as well as eye strain if you’re not optimizing your workspace. With an adjustable-height standing desk, you can work standing up and when you need a break, sit back down.
5. Go digital
Smartphone apps and YouTube offer everything from Pilates and yoga to kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. There is something for everyone at every skill level. Most of these exercises can be done with no equipment at all, limiting the excuses you can make for not signing up for a class or two.
Call up some of your family members, best friends, or colleagues and join a class together for moral support. Pick a time, dial-in, and enjoy exercise together. Working out with others also increases the level of accountability you have to finish what you’ve started.
6. Use household items
Maybe you are interested in working out but are convinced you to need state-of-the-art equipment, an expensive treadmill, and a dedicated yoga room to start your fitness journey.
Nothing could be further than the truth!
You can use household items for almost any exercise. Need to do some curls for biceps definition? Grab a pair of two-liter water jugs. Want to start a calf and quad regimen? Walk up the stairs 20 times. Want to boost your cardio? Run outside (it’s beautiful out there!)
YouTube the best at-home workouts for inspiration today.
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