switching up your exercise routine during quarantine

I love seeing everyone staying busy during this time of isolation. Witnessing others getting creative with their day-to-day obligations is inspiring! It makes me believe that isolation can act as an undercover gift that we can take advantage of. Whether you use this time to relax and give yourself the self-love and recovery you didn’t know you needed, or you accomplish a task that you have put off for a while, you are using your time wisely.

For those of you who are taking this time to exercise… good for you! I know how much strength, encouragement, and discipline it requires to pick yourself up and continue working hard during moments of uncertainty. Many of you are familiar with working out by yourself or making up your own exercises. However, I know that many individuals prefer to follow another’s lead during a workout, whether it be in a group fitness class or one-on-one personal training. If you are used to following instructions during a workout, your exercises could look redundant when you start to lead your own workouts.


This is very understandable since we all have a particular exercise that we prefer to do. For example, I love to run and work on my triceps! This means I always have to be careful that those two forms of exercise aren’t the only ones I do. If I don’t switch up my routine, my body will get used to these movements and become stagnant. I would not be challenging myself or making any improvements towards my physical goals. Not to mention recurring workouts increase chances of injury. 


If redundant workouts sound familiar, try switching it up! Below I have provided examples on how to keep your workouts new and exciting. These tips will make sure that you are constantly challenging yourself and trying something new. 
 
If cardio is your preferred exercise: 

•  Add some bodyweight exercises in between walks/runs. 
  • Examples of bodyweight exercises (stop every quarter during your run and do about 10 sets of each):
    • Pushups
    • Tricep dips
    • Air squats 
    • Walking lunges
    • Curb step-ups/curb toe taps
• Think about adding in intervals during walks/runs
  • ​Example of a walking running interval 
    • Get your heart rate up for 2-3 minutes, then recover for 1 minute. Repeat throughout your workout (This increases calorie burn exponentially vs. walking or running at a steady pace for a straight 45 minutes to 1 hour.)

If strength training is your preferred exercise: 

•  Add in cardio outside to get your heart rate up
  • Examples of cardio outside (go for 45 minutes to 1 hour)
    • Ride your bike
    • Run outside
    • Take a fast-paced walk 

 
Switching up your exercise routine will make sure your metabolism is high functioning and your body and mind are constantly being challenged. If you need extra help in switching up your routine, I am individually writing fun, quarantine-styled workouts for individuals and families. Please contact me if you still like the assistance of a personal trainer. 

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​Remember to stay safe and practice social distancing!