Fall is finally here. For some, this season of pumpkins, more pumpkins, football and cold weather is a favorite. Who doesn’t look forward to wearing their stylish sweaters, scarves and boots again? Taking a nice long walk, gentle cold and crisp wind brushing on your cheeks as you marvel at the picturesque foliage of trees changing their color...now that’s a good idea for anyone.
As the days are now shorter and the weather is colder, you might find that there’s a change in your lifestyle as well. During this season, there’s a possibility that your mood dips a little lower as your cortisol levels are higher compared to summer and spring. What better and healthier way to counter all of that than by engaging in endorphin-releasing activities such as exercise?
One of the good things that this pandemic has taught us is that staying indoors doesn’t mean you need to pass off on being physically active. While there’s plenty of time to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and curl up into a ball, there’s also a lot of things you can do to keep those muscles moving.
Whether you live an active lifestyle or you’re pretty much chill, staying indoors during the fall shouldn’t stop you from getting an exercise or two in your routine.
Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Exercise over Zoom
Who said you can only share presentations during a meeting? Plan a workout schedule, just an hour or 30 mins a day and choose a video that you and your friends can follow together while screen sharing. With a truckload of indoor exercises content on social media, you’ll never run out of choices. This 30-min HIIT session can help you get started.
Netflix and push-ups, anyone?
With the fall weather testing your faltering self-control all the more, why not use Netflix as a way to exercise? For every 30-min episode you’re watching, do a set of 5 lunges, 5 push-ups and 5 sit-ups while watching. If an episode is more than 30 minutes, do a double set. Need some inspiration on some simple exercises you can do? Here’s a 15-min complete body workout to give you some ideas.
Change up the exercises that you do for variety and increase the number as you go along. Don’t cheat! Not only have you known what’s going to happen in that next episode you’re dying to watch, you also did your cardiovascular health and your body a favor by moving it.
Clean out those closets
So why don’t you work those arms and legs and lift those heavy boxes (lift with your legs, not with your back) so you can sort through them and decide which ones to keep? 2021 is fast approaching, and you don’t want to welcome a brand new year with a whole lot of old junk.
Try an indoor sport/hobby
If you’re short on space, you can try doing yoga and meditation to help you center and focus on your thoughts while working on your flexibility. If you want to improve on your self defense skills, try learning the basic moves of boxing! These options aren’t just convenient, they require very little to no equipment at all.
While being “active” is often associated with movements and physical activities, it also has a lot to do with keeping your mind active. Most, if not all of what we do and whether we do it consistently, starts from our mindset. As you make efforts to keep your body active, why not use this time to reflect on your priorities and really figure out what you want to do and how you’re going to do it as well?
Stock up on a lot of warmth, endorphins and positive vibes as it’s about to get colder.
Hero Image by Avrielle Suleiman on Unsplash.
