Having trouble with your indoor workouts? Abandon the idea of living up to others’ idea of what fitness should be
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Indoor workouts have been the name of the game for the past couple of months but I’ll be the first to admit that it’s definitely not the same as going to the gym. I know I’m privileged enough to even think about fitness right now but allow me to tell you why indoor workouts are different. No cardio machines, weights (unless you own a private gym or follow Arnold Schwarzenegger’s instructions), space (or boundaries with family members) and company. And it seems it’s going to be like this for a while especially if you’re like me who’s only willing to go back to the gym perhaps when a vaccine is available.
Many times, I’ve felt demotivated and too tired to even work out during quarantine. I often feel confused about how to switch up my routine. With no weights (my go-to section at the gym) and enough space at home, I had to find ways to improvise—which got a little difficult at times. But in the past few days, my solution has been to change my mindset. Surprisingly, my routine has become consistent. As someone who’s experienced the same struggle, here’s some advice I’d like to share for anyone struggling to work out indoors right now.
It’s okay not to be motivated to work out right now
There are days when I just want to lie down and avoid physical activity after I finish my day job. It took time to understand why I shouldn’t oblige myself to work out or be productive at times. There’s such a thing as quarantine fatigue and it also doesn’t help that we’re continuing our daily routine amid a crisis. You don’t have to pressure yourself to do all those workouts that appear on social media on a daily basis. Instead, be kind to yourself by doing things you actually want to do.
You are the boss of your own body and you decide what works for you and what doesn’t
You can start by setting a simple goal for yourself every day—whether that’s a 10-minute walk around the house, a set of squats, meditation or anything you’ve been wanting to try for quite some time now. Start at a slow pace or even only just 10 to 15 minutes a day. The easier the workout, the more motivated you’ll eventually be to move your body and push yourself to do more.
Don’t think about quarantines or weight loss at all
I want you to abandon the thought of fitness being about losing weight or looking good. Personally, I do 10- to 20-minute beginner-friendly workouts thrice a week just to feel the endorphin rush. Now is a great time to exercise for stress relief and overall wellness instead of what people like to call #gains. Ask yourself: What else can you get from working out besides weight loss? Trust me, you’ll have more than one answer. Don’t work out for the numbers that appear on the weighing scale but instead focus on the idea that physical activity is for release and relief, fun and physical and mental health.
You are in control of your own process
Just because a workout seems to be tough doesn’t mean you’re not capable of physical activity. Remember that you get to decide what workout is right for you and boy, you have a lot of variety. In order to know what exercise feels right, my advice is to try as many indoor workouts possible instead of sticking to a routine. You can invest in a jump rope, challenge yourself with the deck of cards workout or even try different yoga and mindfulness exercises.
In my experience, sticking to one indoor workout routine got a little too boring so I had to look for other ways to sweat. Don’t pressure yourself to get the hang of working out right away but instead let it come naturally to you. You are the boss of your own body and you decide what works for you and what doesn’t.