Staying Active While Staying Home

Now that Ottawa is deep in the second wave of COVID-19, staying home as much as possible is one of the key methods of reducing the spread. Because of this, along with online learning and most facilities being closed to the public, staying active isn’t necessarily one of my priorities, and it’s a lot harder for me to get daily exercise now. I’ve decided to change that! Here are some of the workouts and tips I have discovered over the course of quarantine.

Take advantage of the weather outside while it’s still nice! Lace up your running shoes, grab your earbuds and go for a jog or a walk. Try going along the Rideau Canal for a great view – I like to motivate myself with a scenic route, and once I finish my run, I reward myself! Listen to a motivating workout playlist, bring your water bottle along and set small goals each time. If a run isn’t quite your speed, try a bike ride! There are lots of cool biking paths around Ottawa.

Once the weather worsens and it’s even more preferable to stay indoors, it’s important to keep your body moving. It’s easy to feel unproductive when quarantining indoors, especially with classes online, so finding an indoor workout that works for you is key. If you prefer a group setting in a workout, try out Carleton Athletics’ virtual fitness classes! All classes are accessible online at no extra cost for Carleton students. There are a variety of classes being offered for all skill levels, and the instructors will keep you motivated – even if you’re just in your living room.

Not so much for the group setting? Take advantage of the hundreds of free workouts offered on YouTube! You can personalize your workout and focus on what energizes you. Maybe you’d prefer moving your body through a yoga tutorial, or if you want to work on your upper body strength, find an arm circuit that challenges you. Remember, you can always modify workouts to suit you! Work with the space you have, and if you don’t have dumbbells, find something else to use as a weight, like one of your textbooks.

There have been a lot of changes and uncharted waters this year, and figuring out how to transition to online learning has been overwhelming. While it’s vital to stay active and stay moving, make sure not to push yourself past your limits. Sometimes we need a day to just relax and participate in our lectures from the couch, and that’s okay! Prioritize both your physical health and your mental health. Most importantly, believe in yourself. You are your biggest cheerleader – and I’m rooting for you too!