Working out is not always an appealing idea in the best of times, and while the current pandemic may have squashed your desire to get in shape, health has never mattered more than right now. We should all be focused on improving our health during these turbulent and stressful times. No matter how comfortable your bed is, it is time to get up and work out to keep yourself in good health. Most gyms and workout classes are canceled or restricted right now, but that doesn’t mean you cannot work out. Working out indoors or at home might not be the same feeling as the gym, but you can still have an enjoyable and interesting workout while staying safe. Here are some ideas for working inside or at home to keep you in good health during this pandemic.

Improve The Atmosphere

One of the worst parts of working out at home is that it doesn’t feel like a gym or workout space, which can make it harder to get in the exercising mood or zone. Try working on your space to make it a better environment that encourages exercise. Use wireless earbuds or wireless speakers to add music to your workouts. Music makes workouts more interesting and helps you stay motivated. Studies have shown that certain genres of music can even help you burn more calories or work out longer, all while improving your mental state.

Use Technology

A few years ago, working out at home meant repeating the same exercises over and over because you didn’t have access to anything else. Not everyone can keep weights or workout equipment at home, but that doesn’t mean you are stuck with boring or limited options. 2020 has seen an explosion in online workout classes that you can do from home. With the help of the Internet, you can take classes in ballet, martial arts, yoga, and almost any other discipline you can think of. Independent instructors run most of these online workout classes, and you can follow along without special equipment or advanced training. Instead of repeating the same home workouts, see what online classes can offer to mix up your routine to keep workouts interesting, engaging, and encouraging.

Simple Progress

Working out at home does not mean setting aside an hour for a hard workout. Working out at home can also mean taking a nightly walk around the block or jumping rope after sitting at your desk all day for work. You do not need to go from couch potato to bodybuilder overnight. The best part about working out at home is that there is no one to judge you and your progress is perfect for you. If you are slowly making progress even with simple exercises, you can successfully work out at home or indoors. Apps like Couch to 5k center around simple progress over time, so you can push yourself on your own timeline. Even getting a pedometer and aiming for 10,000 steps a day is considered daily exercise and is a simple goal to add to your daily routine.

Fit In A Workout Anywhere

Part of working out at home involves changing your mentality about what a workout looks like. Everyone is busy, especially as we head into the end of the year, but you always have a few minutes to spare to squeeze in a workout. A workout needn’t be something you stop everything else to accomplish. Do a squat each time you reach into the laundry basket while loading the washing machine or do jumping jacks while waiting for something to cook. There are a million moments where you could add some quick exercise, and those few minutes every day add up to significant exercise over time.

We are all going through stressful times, and it can be easy to fall into a rut, but everyone’s health matters more than ever right now. Working out is a crucial element to weathering this storm, and there are many ways to get yourself excited about exercise again. Add music to your workout sessions to create an uplifting and encouraging atmosphere. Use technology to change up your workouts or classes, so you never get bored. Aim for simple but steady progress with your workouts, and remember that you can add some squats between commercials if you don’t have time to set aside only for exercise.