Many lectures are on Zoom this year, which for most students means we no longer must make that 15-minute trek across campus in the rain for our third class of the day. However, it also means a much more sedentary lifestyle as we sit at our desks for hours at a time. Additionally, if you are still here in Columbus, Ohio’s varying weather makes it less enjoyable to go on random walks for coffee, food, etc. at times.
Here are some tips to get your steps in and your heart pumping between classes!
- Keep going on your walks for food and coffee, despite the weather. Sounds like a good excuse to keep your fuzzy pajama pants on and/or wear your favorite rain coat!
- Do any exercise that you enjoy doing and could stay consistent with at the RPAC or North Rec. For example, if you hate running but don’t mind riding a stationary bike, then do that! As long as you pick something that you do not despise, you are much more likely to do it on a regular basis.
- Yoga/mediation, or a cardio workout in your room. There are plenty of free videos on the internet that can get your body moving and your mind off of school.
- Start a 60-day challenge of any kind. I know there are so many of these challenges out there like ab, squat, pushup, circuit, etc. Whatever you want to work on, and again enjoy, so that you can finish the challenge!
- If you live in a dorm or apartment complex, take the stairs. This is a great way to get the heart rate up for a few minutes, a few times per day. It also saves you time waiting for an elevator and is another step towards staying active.
Try any or all of these to keep your heart, body, and mind healthy as we all grind through another semester. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and take a productive break from school. If you do none of the 5 ideas listed above, I challenge you to do this: stand up for at least one minute every hour.
For more resources visit:
- Recreational Sports: https://recsports.osu.edu
- Sample 60-day Challenge: https://darebee.com/programs/60-days-of-cardio.html
– Griffin Mason, Buckeye Food Alliance Volunteer