For many of us, the pandemic has changed the way we live. Since last March have you:

Been spending more time at home?
Felt increased levels of stress?
Been sitting more often?
Struggled to keep a consistent sleep schedule?
Changed your nutrition habits?

If so, you’re not alone. Now that we’re a year into life through a pandemic, this can be a great time to reassess your lifestyle habits and get inspired to get active.

Armchair fan to active participant

Many of us love nothing more than to watch a game on TV and follow a team or club. If you’ve been watching more sport during lockdown, or you were blown away by the story of Covid-19 and the 2020 NBA bubble, why not move from being an armchair fan to an active participant? You can try a whole host of activities and sports from basketball and baseball to golf, tennis, swimming, running and soccer.

If you’re not an active person, you might think of exercise as a chore, but this doesn’t have to be the case. If you can find sports that you love and you enjoy playing, you won’t feel like you’re working out. Look into beginners classes, local teams and clubs and informal training sessions you can get involved with to develop your skills and build your fitness gradually and take friends along with you for moral support.

Set a specific goal

One of the best ways to get fit and stay motivated with a new exercise routine is to set a target for yourself. If you have a sedentary lifestyle and you want to be more active or you’re keen to develop your fitness after starting to walk or run more during the pandemic, it’s a great idea to set yourself daily or weekly targets, for example, 5,000 steps a day or 150 active minutes per week. Wearable technology and apps make it easy to track activity and monitor your progress. If you’re hitting targets easily, increase your steps or active minutes and try new activities that are more challenging or intensive. You should find that it becomes easier to reach your goals as you build stamina and strength. Having targets can help to maintain high levels of motivation and it can also encourage you to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, which will have physical and mental health benefits.

Try new activities

When you think of fitness and exercise, what kinds of images pop into your mind? Many people will automatically conjure up mental pictures of going to the gym or running on a treadmill. While working out at the gym is enjoyable for some, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The good news is that you don’t have to run for miles, do hundreds of sit-ups or join a gym to get fit. There are all kinds of sports and active pursuits you can try. If you’re a fan of being outside, go jogging by the coast, try kayaking or climbing or spend your weekends hiking in the hills. If you love to watch team sports, consider joining a local club. If you prefer to exercise alone rather than going to a gym, you can take part in virtual training sessions, use home gym equipment, go jogging or cycling or hire a personal trainer for one-to-one workouts. It’s important to remember that any activity that increases your heart rate will benefit you. From boxing and judo to Pilates and skiing, there’s something for everyone. Vary your routine and enjoy a change of scenery from time to time.

Ask for support

When you first start a new routine, the change can sometimes be daunting. Check in with your loved ones or with those you know who have good habits and who can support you as you set out to reach your new goals. You might also find inspiration in research or joining online groups that talk about the benefits of moving your body. As a society, we tend to focus on exercise as a means of losing weight or sculpting our bodies. While working out can contribute to weight loss and muscle gain and toning, it offers a whole host of additional benefits. Regular exercise aids sleep, it reduces the risk of life-threatening illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and some types of cancer and it lowers stress and anxiety levels. Being more active is beneficial for physical and mental health and it can play a crucial role in making you feel good. If you need an extra push, or you want to know more about how exercise affects your body, it’s wise to consult your doctor and to consider joining exercise classes or hiring a personal trainer.

Create a support team for yourself

We all know that it’s much easier to make changes to our lifestyle when others get on board too. Whether it’s giving up smoking, cutting down on sugary treats or being more active, it’s a great idea to encourage friends and family to get involved. If you’re on a mission to embrace health and fitness and start doing more exercise, ask friends and family to support you by joining in. Go for family walks and bike rides, take friends to exercise classes or hit the gym or train at home with your partner. Set family targets, track your progress and celebrate as a team. Being more active as a family, a couple or a group of friends will benefit every individual and it can also make exercise more fun. If you’re out for a hike with friends or you’re catching up with your brothers or your dad over a personal training session or a swim or a game of golf, it won’t feel like hard work.

Are you ready to change your life and get more active? This is a great time to start.

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