Many people are panicking about this pandemic, besides getting sick, the epidemic is a cause for concern. Restaurants and gyms have closed while grocery stores have emptied. In the state of stress that much of the public is experiencing, it creates a dip in immune system function. Experiencing high pressure is counterproductive in the fight for health during the outbreak. The best way to stay healthy is to keep the mind and body preoccupied and out of stressful environments. Here are a few tips on how to stay active during the COVID-19 outbreak.

  • Yoga

In case you haven’t had anyone preach to you about the wonders of yoga, I am here to tell you it is a powerful exercise. Yoga focuses on breathwork; you breathe into your body and allow your breath to carry you into different positions or “flow.” Yoga is something that you can do inside your home or possibly outside while abiding by social distancing guidelines. If you are a beginner, you can find yoga tutorials online; if not, you can create your flow, or jump on skype to do a group session with friends. Yoga is known to destress and keep your body fit and functioning at a high level. Yoga creates long lean muscles as well as provides medicine to your mind. It is a wonder why everyone hasn’t hopped on the Yoga bandwagon.

  • Walks

While social distancing guidelines advise you not to gather in public, walking while keeping a six-foot distance between yourself and another person, is entirely acceptable. Fresh air and sunlight are essential for keeping your body in good health. Just as you would steer clear from a dark enclosed space when choosing a place to live, your body knows that it would not be happy in a situation like that, keeping inside your house under artificial light is not optimal for bodily function either. Enjoying the outdoors, taking a brisk walk, or a stroll would get your heart pumping. Experts advise at least 20 minutes of exercise daily, but the more, the merrier. Listening to music, hanging out with your dog, or interacting with nature are all fun ways to stay entertained on your walk.

  • Zumba

If you have never tried Zumba, now is your chance to, you won’t regret it. Zumba is a series of dance steps explicitly created for you to burn the most calories possible. It is practically impossible to stay sad or stressed during a Zumba work out. You are dancing to peppy music and hopping around on your toes. Probably, doing things you never thought you could do. Zumba is a smart way to trick people into working out. If you love music and tapping your toes, this workout is for you. You can find Zumba instructors online, and even bring your kids into the mix to give it a try. Zumba will get your heart rate up in no time. Many people who have underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, find relief, or improvement when applying an effective workout to their daily routine. Zumba is the perfect way to keep busy during the stay-cation that COVID-19 has given you.

  • Hiking In Nature

Like I said before, hiking on unpopular trails is a perfectly acceptable way to stay active during the pandemic. As long as you are distancing yourself 6 feet apart from others as you go about your hike. Invite your kids on the adventure with you or other family members. When embarking on the trail, be wary of wildlife. The animals are usually afraid of humans but due to less humans on the trail some will feel more inclined to interact with you. Here’s how to avoid snakes on the trail. Enjoying the outdoors is a simple way to ease stress and keep your mental health in check. Hiking is extremely good for your body; it exposes you to sunlight and challenges you to shift weight and navigate on through an inclining trail. It’s hard to become overwhelmed with the stress of the virus while enjoying the scenery of a beautiful waterfall, mountain or lake.

  • Playing With Kids

If you have kids and are looking to entertain them and work out, you can kill two birds with one stone with this trick. Though you may not be able to see friends or others during this time, having social interactions relieves stress in your body practically immediately. Humans are social creatures, which is why some people find social distancing so tricky. The good news is if you do have kids and you can be social with them. Kids have a ton of energy and want to play with you. Playing games like tag with them, twister, jump rope, or hopscotch are great options to get your heart rate going and entertain your kids. The exercise will likely tire both of you out, and maybe your child will be more willing to nap afterward. Consider making it a daily quarantine activity, you will be feeling good in your skin, and your mind in no time.

Staying active is a crucial part of your mental and physical health; it is excellent for releasing anxiety and stress. Most people right now probably need to be active more than ever before, and thanks to COVID-19,  you have received the gift of time to do so! Whatever you decide to do with your quarantine time, do not neglect your mental health, as it is a key factor in producing high-quality immune function.