Regular physical activities result in a better mood, more relaxed mind and body, and boosts daily productivity level. That’s why keeping your physical fitness in a good state is as important as keeping your mental health in check especially during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, some people might think it’s impossible to achieve since the gym and fitness centres are still closed indefinitely. Not just that, the fact that the majority are either busy working from home or very much occupied looking after their family might also hinder the concept of catching up with daily physical activities.
Having that in mind, we’ve come up with a bright idea of listing down some of the best ways to remain physically fit with the mighty help of various pieces of household items. Yes, you’ve read it right! Of course, who would’ve thought that most of your household items can actually double as fitness equipment alternatives?
So, what are you waiting for? Skyrocket your overall well-being amid these troubling times by scrolling through the next few pages!
1. Tone your arms and chest with the help of household couches or chairs
Let’s start taking a quick tour in your living room or lounging area. Oftentimes, this place is a sanctuary for those who want to rest and binge-watch while chowing down some of the best snacks from the fridge.
But aside from that, this place houses a potential fitness equipment replacement to help you keep in shape while on home quarantine, and that’s none other than your household couches and chairs. With couches and chairs as an effective fitness equipment swap, you can now do a couple of reps or triple rounds of chest and triceps dips.
So, before you sit down and begin your work from home hours, make sure to tone your arms and chest first with the help of your household couches and chairs.
2. Enhance your balance and stability with your household cushions
Another fitness equipment swap you can find in your living room is your cushions. Hmm, you might be wondering how your cushions could do the work of fitness equipment, right?
If so, know that your fancy and soft cushions can actually be used as balance tools. Basically, cushions are packed with plump and soft materials, which make this household item tough to stand on just like the legit balance tools such as BOSU ball, and wobble boards.
With the help of your household cushions, you can now improve your stability and balance, and as well as level up your push-ups, split squats, regular squats, lunges, side lunges, and more!
3. Got some heavy books? If yes, then proceed with weights training and other exercises
While some have invested in several pieces of in-house fitness equipment pretty enough to keep them busy and physically active amid the pandemic, some are still trying their best to find out the best alternative ways to stay fit and healthy while quarantined.
If you’re on the latter side, then know that you can still push through your quarantine home exercise plans using heavy objects such as the heavy books you’ve been keeping in the storage room for ages. Heavy books are good fitness equipment alternatives for medicine balls or weight plates.
You can also use heavy books and other heavy objects for weights training and abdominal workout.
5. Don’t just stare at your stairs. Use it as your in-house StairMaster
With so many crazy things going on right now, spending on something expensive isn’t ideal. And when it comes to pursuing your quarantine home workout idea, know that you can use your stairs as a convenient substitute for StairMaster.
Your household staircase will enable you to run or walk up and down just like when you’re using a StairMaster, which is a good cardio exercise. Not only that, but you can also use your stairs when doing incline and decline push-ups, chest and triceps dip, and other various stretches that will definitely keep your heart pumping and your fat burning.
6. Say bye to dumbbells and kettlebells. Say hello to water bottles, laundry or dishwashing jugs
The last household items on our list are several bottles of water, and laundry or dishwashing jugs. Instead of crying over the unpurchased dumbbells, kettlebells, and hand weights, say hello to these great fitness equipment alternatives.
You can use any of the suggested fitness equipment substitutes for executing, kettlebell swing, overhead presses, front raises, and other more exercises that tones the arms or chest area.
The bottom line:
Staying home might feel like being locked up in the same place for a long time without having a single productive thing to do. But these household items and their other convenient uses are some of the many proofs that you can still stay in shape and active even while on home quarantine during this pandemic season.
AUTHOR BIO:
Kath Ramirez embraced the dream of being a writer since she was in 4th grade. She took it seriously and she now writes for Fitbiz Gym Equipment, a health and fitness equipment provider based in Australia. Aside from writing, Kath also keeps herself busy spending time with her family, cherishing the role of a dog mum, reading random books, and diving into the world of photography. She’s not even a pro at whatever she’s engaged in right now, but one thing she knows, she’s happy and that’s more than enough.