We all know we need to exercise, but the prospect can very often be a daunting one. Not everyone can or wants to go for a jog in public or build up a sweat down at the gym, so we’ve thought of some more accessible and fun ways to exercise and burn calories at home.
Dance
Putting on your favourite music and having a dance around is a great way to exercise without feeling like you’re exercising. You can move as much or as little as you can, and you don’t even have to go outside, making it an ideal exercise when you have to spend a lot of time at home. As well as benefitting your body, dancing can also help to lift your mood and make you feel happier, making it a great stress reliever – perfect after a long day at work or sitting at a desk.
Play a video game
This might seem counter-intuitive at first, but most modern games consoles have games designed to get you up and moving, providing a very fun way to exercise in your living room. Consoles like the Nintendo Switch even have special controllers designed to help with workout games, from playing virtual sports to workout sessions.
Do a retro workout
It’s easy to be put off by the latest workout crazes, seemingly designed to be less and less accessible to the average person. As a fun antidote to all the fads, why not pull up a classic workout routine from years past, easily found with a quick search on YouTube. They usually feel a lot more fun and light-hearted and are easy to do at home. Maybe give Jane Fonda’s Walking Workout a try, or relive some 80s classics with the delightful Richard Simmons.
Play like a kid
If you’re stuck at home with kids, take some time to play active games with them. Running around (preferably outside) is a great way to exercise and burn calories. From just throwing a ball around to playing tag, it gets your whole body moving, and naturally is a lot of fun. Even better if you have a trampoline to jump on, which really gives your body a workout you’ll feel the next day.
Play a sport
Exercise doesn’t always have to be about running on a treadmill or doing press-ups when playing a sport you enjoy is a much better option. Renting a tennis or badminton court with some friends, or just heading to a local park to play some football is a great way to work out without it really feeling like a workout.
Walk and listen
Walking is great exercise, but to make it more enjoyable you could listen to an audiobook as you go. If you also only allow yourself to listen to the audiobook when you walk, it can help to encourage you to keep up the habit when you want to find out what happens next! It can also help encourage you to walk further as you want to listen to more of the story. Pick one of those classics you’ve always intended to read and watch yourself eat up the miles without even noticing.