Simple ways to stay active in your spare time

By: Camila

People who have gotten into the gym lifestyle know how hard it is to keep the habit of going to the gym. If you’ve ever struggled to decide if you want to go to the gym or not, you also know that it’s not always easy to find the time to do it. It is difficult to accommodate our schedules according to our lifestyle and honestly, it is OKAY if we don’t always find the perfect time or moment to exercise. I feel that as time goes on, we make ourselves do things that maybe we don’t want to do, especially when it comes to doing exercise. It is important to move our bodies, as it’s a way in which we can relax ourselves and relieve stress, but it doesn’t always have to be a strict workout! I want to share with you what workouts I do when I know that I have to move my body, but I don’t want to get out of bed. 

1. Just Start Walking - Do you have a step goal?

Walking is something that most people do without even being aware of it. Most of the time we just do it by inertia, and we are not conscious of what are we doing. This is my favourite one because you can set goals while walking or walk to a destination instead of around a track! For example, if you don’t want to do exercise but you know you must, you can always choose to transport yourself with your legs instead of taking a car! It is a nice workout, and you can always appreciate the landscapes that surround you. 

2. Take Time to Stretch - Help Your Everyday Movement

The second one is stretching, and while it essentially is not a workout by itself, it definitely helps the health of your bones and muscles. It takes only five minutes to stretch, and it can be at any time: when you wake up, when you are on break at work, or even when you are about to sleep—stretching gives your body a sense of peace and helps with flexibility.  

3. Squeeze in some Yoga - Accessible to Beginners

This one may depend on how much time you have, so if you have at least thirty minutes, this is a nice choice. You’re probably thinking, “But I need an instructor for yoga!” and that is probably true, but this can be a good option for you if you’re looking for connection between your body and your mind. And of course, if you want to book yoga classes it is up to you and it would be amazing if you do it! But if not, don’t feel guilty, you can find as many yoga videos as you like on YouTube! 

4. Find a Fitness Instructor/Friend to Motivate You

Continuing with what I said before about booking yoga classes, this fourth workout option is to pay an instructor who can motivate you! Many times, when we spend money on something we want to make the most of it—so why not spend money on something that can benefit you? You can even pay your friend just to give you motivation or tell them to join your workout. When we have company, we feel more motivated to do things that we won’t do alone. 

5. Follow a Workout Video on YouTube - Find Your Fave Fitness Influencer!

There are a lot of options on YouTube that have become trendy after the pandemic, so you can find videos that are five to 40 minutes! If you want to do some cardio or if you want to get some abs, you can find anything you like according to your preferences! You don’t have to leave the comfort of your bedroom; you can just choose a video and press play :D.

So, whenever you don’t feel like working out, try to find moments throughout your day to walk, stretch, or do some yoga! If working out with an instructor or friend will help motivate you, reach out to your local fitness community. Remember to do what works for you, even if it means following an ab workout video on YouTube after a late-night study session. 

Curious about how you can boost your wellness habits?

If you’re looking to maximize or improve other areas of your life, such as mental health, academics, or creating a peaceful study environment, check out these other Wellness blogs! With tips, tricks, and advice from fellow student leaders, you’ll find some hidden gems that come from real, lived experience.