Whether you bought a gym membership on January 1 and never returned to the gym, or you run 5 kilometres up and down the stairs at Wreck Beach for a warm-up, staying active in times of social distancing is difficult.
Here are some ways to stay active during a global pandemic!
1. YouTube workout videos
You’ve heard it all: 'Get Abs in 2 Weeks,' '20 Minute Fat Burner!' and 'HIIT Workout to Torch Calories!'
YouTube workout videos are the modern-day at-home aerobics DVDs. Upbeat music, brightly coloured leggings and an instructor who never seems to sweat no matter how many crunches they do.
Whether you’re on day three of Chloe Ting’s two-week shred or Cassey Ho’s 7-day glute challenge, there’s an endless stream of workout videos that pop up daily. They’re usually equipment-free and come in a variety of difficulty levels.
Rating: 5/5
2. Going for a walk
While going on a walk may not seem as exciting as doing a thousand pushups, it's still a great way to get some fresh air and take a break from long online lectures. How else is someone supposed to get their steps in if they’re not trekking across campus anymore?
At the end of the day, any exercise is better than no exercise. Just make sure that you’re staying two metres away from others at all times!
Rating: 3/5
3. Makeshift At-Home Gyms
Can’t go to the gym anymore? Upset that your membership got refunded? Why not bring the gym to you instead?
Whether you’re doing squats with your old textbooks or you have an extra $3000 lying around for a Peloton bike, you may want to consider turning an unused area of your house into a gym of sorts.
The one downside is that your roommates or family members may not be too happy about losing their living room to a squat rack.
Rating: 2/5
4. TikTok Dances
Move over, Charli D’Amelio, a new TikTok star is coming! TikTok dances serve as an entertaining way to get some kind of exercise in. Whether you’re learning 'how to hit the woah' or 'throw it back,' you’ll be sure to break a sweat eventually.
If you’re feeling particularly bold, you may even want to post what you’ve learned for all your friends to see. Who knows, maybe you’ll pay off your next semester’s tuition with that sponsorship money!
Rating: 4/5
5. Just Dance, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) and more!
Whether you still have a copy of Just Dance 4 for the Wii or you miss the good ol' days of playing DDR in your living room, games that involve dancing are another way to get in your daily exercise.
If you don’t happen to have a console or a copy of the game, dancing along to gameplay videos on YouTube may be an option!
Rating: 5/5 (+1 for nostalgia)