Spending time at home can be fun and active with physical activity

A blog from David Gent, CEO, Active Humber and David Watson, CEO, North Yorkshire Sport

To all of our colleagues across North Yorkshire and the Humber, we all hope you and your families are safe and well. 

The COVID-19 situation is obviously impacting the way we live our lives right now. However, we’re here to remind you that the best way to stay happy and healthy during these trying times is to incorporate some movement into every single day.

Practicing social distancing and listening to HM Government recommendations is obviously crucial at this point in time, and safety always comes first. But it’s also important to remember that adults over the age of 16 need 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity every week to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle, and children and young people (between the ages of 5 and 16) need 60 minutes each day.

Our lives are undoubtedly different right now, but we can still do everything we can to ensure our families’ bodies and minds are strong, their moods are boosted and energy levels are prime. Feeling down or stressed? Now is a great time to utilise physical activity as an outlet for you and family to be as happy and healthy as possible.

Use what you have at home to keep everyone moving

Whether you have kids, live by yourself, or even with friends, incorporating a little bit of physical activity into your daily routine can have significant benefits on your physical and mental health – and you don’t need to even leave the comfort of your own home. 

From the ability to breathe better, get better sleep and laugh more, physical activity is the best way to make sure both you and your family’s health is as robust as possible. Obviously, it’s harder to get out and move around as we usually do right now, but that’s OK. We all have to do our part, but active time doesn’t need to be sacrificed.

To help you and your family stay safe, active and healthy, we’ve put together a list of activities that you can do in your own living room, on your balcony or in your garden. Between the two of us we have tried them all and here is our top 15 things to do with your family at this time.

1. Pilates or yoga - gentle but don’t under estimate the benefits
   
2. Dance party (hello, favourite playlist!) - Dad and Mum dancing is very much allowed, kids don’t get embarrassed, no one is watching!
   
3. Walking - whilst practising social distancing 
   
4. Stair climbing - the ultimate aerobic challenge - can you climb the height of one of Yorkshire’s biggest mountains?
   
5. Tai Chi - May not be able to travel to China but a wonderful exercise from China. 
   
6. Aerobics, HIIT, etc. - follow along to a free YouTube demo or Instagram Live
   
7. Ping-pong on the table!
   
8. Basketball in the garden and if you don’t have a net, build one with materials you already have like a waste basket - then you can even practice your slam dunk indoors!
   
9. The Olympics may be postponed but you can still do your version of a Mini Olympics.
   
10. Exergaming (just make sure you limit screen time)
    
11. Housework counts as well and it is the beginning of spring so get busy around the home.  
    
12. Cycling on a stationary bike - imagine you are leading the Tour de Yorkshire!
    
13. Gardening - the garden doesn't know about COVID19 and those plants need tending to and a great form of exercise.
    
14. Build an obstacle course with the Kids. For Mums and Dads keep it to yourself but imagine it as a tough mudder and this time you are succeeding and staying clean!
    
15. Still need more ideas then go to the biggest physical activity movement at this time - #stayinworkout from Sport England.
    

At the end of the day, we all share a collective responsibility to our communities to practice social distancing in order to help keep our loved ones safe. But that shared responsibility also means safely getting active each and every day in order for everyone to maintain healthy lifestyles. Let’s not complicate things: stay active and stay healthy. 

We’ll get through this together, Yorkshire and the Humber, one step at a time.

All the best from the two David’s at Active Humber and North Yorkshire Sport.

For activities across the Humber, click here.

For activities across North Yorkshire, click here.