Written by: Olivia Frymark
Regular exercise can improve your mood, increase your energy levels, reduce your risk of chronic disease, help your. brain health, memory, sleep quality, and maintain strong muscles and bones. If something is keeping you away from the gym, no problem! Whether you are traveling or short on time, there are plenty of steps you can take to stay in shape and keep your body healthy.
No matter where you are, set your intentions to make sure your goals are clear. Try using the SMART goals acronym to help keep you on track:
- Specific: State exactly what you want to accomplish. Be precise.
- Measurable: Set a goal that you can easily track progress. If it helps, use smaller, mini goals for additional measurable touchpoints.
- Achievable: Make your goal reasonable. Don’t set the bar too high. If your goal isn’t realistic, you are less likely to make as much measurable progress.
- Realistic: Set a goal that is relevant to your life. A goal is realistic if you believe it can truly be accomplished.
- Timely: Give yourself time but set a deadline. This will help keep you accountable.
Consider these ways to stay active wherever you are
The world is your oyster! No matter where you are, walking is something easy you can do to get your heartrate up. You can do it indoors or out, it requires no equipment, just the willpower to get up a move! If you don’t have a lot of time, go for a quick loop around your neighborhood. If you’re traveling, walk the airport, hotel grounds or halls. Or if you can, go out and explore the new area you are in.
Doing a quick cardio or strength training workout at home or while traveling may be easier than you think. The following exercises don’t require a ton of space and can help you build muscle and burn calories.
- Butt kicks
- Burpees
- Crunches
- High knees
- Jog in place
- Jumping Jacks
- Jump rope
- Mountain climbers
- Planks
- Push ups
- Squat jumps
- Wall sits
Remember that you are in charge of your own progress and success. Think about how many sets and reps you can start with and improve upon while setting your SMART goals.
If you aren’t the best self-starter, don’t worry. Even if you can’t hit the gym, we’ve been working to help bring the gym to you. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we understand that people’s comfort levels are different around attending in-person workout classes. But this shouldn’t mean you can’t make the best out of your situation. Check out our listings of virtual workout classes! Our different class types work to fit your needs. We have virtual classes ranging from 15 minutes to an hour depending on what fits best in your schedule.
If you can’t make it to the gym, your fitness routine shouldn’t have to suffer. And starting a new workout routine doesn’t have to be intimidating – all you have to do is get started. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities and keep iterating upon your routine. Make the best out of whatever situation you are in and remember there is always room to grow!
