FITNESS
How to Stay Active Duri A
lthough numerous aspects of life have changed, health and fitness does not need to fall to the wayside. In fact, maintaining your fitness can help you cope with stress. National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer Tiffany Driskell, a senior at CSU, commented, “I think everyone has a little more anxiety because we don’t know what’s going to be happening, and exercise releases endorphins… Right now we need those endorphins more than ever.” Here are a few tips for how to stay active during quarantine:
create a routine Although numerous aspects of life have changed, scheduling your workout at a specific time every day will help add some stability to your day. CPT Driskell acknowledged that every person has something different that works for them, but “the morning is my favorite time to workout because then I don’t worry about it for the rest of the day… and then you’re feeling great the rest of the day.” You may also want to give yourself something to look forward to after your workout. In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg came to the conclusion that rewarding yourself after completing a desired behavior reinforces that behavior. You can apply this to your fitness goals by treating yourself after your workout. This treat can be anything from a long shower to a FaceTime call with your best friend. You could reward yourself with a cookie, but depending on the fitness goals you’ve set, eating a cookie after every workout may not be as beneficial.
find a buddy Finding a workout buddy can make the workout not only more fun, but can also encourage you to hold one another accountable. If you already had a gym buddy, you can still video chat with them and workout together. You can also do this with several friends. Ask around your residence as well. You may be able to use your daily workout as a way to bond with a family member or roommate. 18 | The Saber | SPRING 2020
Use Body Weight Exercises For people without access to workout equipment, body weight exercises are a viable way of maintaining and strengthening muscles. This includes any kind of movement that utilizes the weight of your own body, including push-ups, reverse lunges, and squats. Body weight exercises are very versatile and can be done anywhere.
Get Creative with Household Objects If you would like to work with some weight, water or laundry detergent jugs can be used as kettlebells, or try moving some furniture around your house with appropriate deadlifting form. Put something heavy in a bookbag; it has handles, and you can make it as heavy as the combined items you fit in it. Broomsticks may not be heavy, but you can use them to work on form if you do not own a barbell. MACY FRAZIER
