Fitness: a new View for 2021

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

This nine-month pandemic has led to a major shift in how, when and where we take care of our bodies. Our fitness routine, eating habits, and mental well-being have been drastically affected as we adjust to the “new normal.” Whether you changed your workouts from the gym to a digital platform, went from eating out daily to home cooking, or had to find new ways to manage stress, we have all developed new healthy habits to take care of ourselves.

Being confined to our houses over the past nine months has provided many with the flexibility to recommit to a fitness routine. In fact, twenty-five percent of professionals are exercising more now than at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the ClassPass report. Most of these people are utilizing their lunch break, for the first time in a long time, to work up a sweat. The ClassPass report showed that lunchtime workouts have seen a sixty-seven percent increase in popularity, and health experts say a midday workout is good for not only your physical and mental health, but also your productivity. The benefits of lunchtime fitness should encourage you to hop on this new workout trend in 2021. Here are six tips to help you transition:

      1. Choose an activity that compliments your workday: Know when your body needs some recovery or when it can handle some extra stress. On days when your schedule is jam packed, it may be beneficial to perform yoga or mindful meditation. However, on more typical workdays, perform high-intensity interval training or go for a run.
      2. If you don’t have time for a break, combine your work & movement: Take phone calls or Zoom calls while out walking
      3. Schedule your workout like a meeting: Whether it’s a five-minute stretching session or a full workout class, be sure to add it to your calendar!
      4. Dress in your workout clothes: Save yourself the hassle of having to change when workout time rolls around. This way when it is time for your session, you’re ready to go!
      5. Plan your post-workout lunch: To prevent yourself from jumping right back into work without fueling your body, prepare meals that you can grab and eat or are easy to assemble.
      6. Start small: Your workout can be anything from a five-minute stretching session to a twenty-minute bootcamp. Although it would be great to work out for that full hour right away, you’re more likely to succeed if you work your way up to longer workouts once you establish the healthy habit first.

The sky-high stress levels of 2020 have led to an even bigger uptick in the need for fitness for the sake of our mental and emotional health. We are seeing more and more people replace thoughts about an “ideal body type” with learning how to be more present and mindful within their current bodies in fitness. I believe this new perspective of fitness will allow for more inclusivity, achievement of goals, and a healthier, happier lifestyle in 2021. Happy New Year!

Resource:

https://www.today.com/health/9-surprising-ways-tame-election-stress-t195430

About the Author:

Ariana Burrell is a lover of all things health and wellness. She found her passion while in college at the University of Oregon, where she received her Bachelors in Human Physiology and Psychology. At the age of 19, she became a personal trainer and fitness instructor for the university recreation center, and has been growing her knowledge and experience in the fitness world since. With a background in various training formats from Pilates and yoga to sports performance and strength and conditioning, there is nothing more she loves about being in this field than inspiring others to live healthy, active, and balanced lives. In addition to fitness and wellness, she also enjoys hiking/walking with her dog, baking tasty treats, and journaling.

 

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