Homebound and Retired? The Pandemic Is No Excuse for Not Exercising Enough

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill last year, many people faced unprecedented levels of inactivity. Those who were accustomed to constantly being on the go suddenly found themselves trapped at home due to widespread shelter-in-place orders. People who didn’t go out much, to begin with, found themselves even idler than before. This created the foundation for quite a few problems not the least of which were muscle deterioration, weight gain, and depression. Of course, all those issues bring about a long list of additional health risks.

The Impact on Senior Citizens

While everyone has been affected by this development, senior citizens are among the hardest hit. Many have been staying indoors to protect themselves against the latest health threat sweeping the world as well as all the conventional illnesses that crop up each year, such as various strains of the flu. At the same time, those who were participating in exercise programs and social groups before the pandemic ultimately found themselves without access to those alternatives because of social distancing guidelines and other regulations. If you’re one of the many retirees researching Independent Living Near Me and looking for ways to get more active, the following tips can help.

Bring Your Walks Indoors

Walking is one of the simplest and most effective forms of exercise for people of all ages. It offers quite a few health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, lower blood sugar levels, and heightened immunity. While there’s no denying that getting out and walking around the block or completing some errands on foot offers more interesting scenery and gives you the added advantage of fresh air, you can enjoy the benefits of walking without stepping foot outside. Consider making laps through your home or marching in place in front of the television while watching your favorite shows.

Seated Workouts

Numerous tools are at your disposal even if you can’t leave the house to take advantage of them. One of the most highly touted is the Silver Sneakers program. It offers a wide range of free and low-cost fitness options for seniors, one of which is a lineup of chair workouts. These workouts are geared toward helping older Americans remain active, and they provide a safe, low-impact exercise regimen for those who may not be able to participate in traditional workout routines. They’re easily accessible online.

Turn to the Internet

In the age of the internet, there’s no limit to the possibilities for homebound people looking for ways to stay physically active. Gyms have been offering limited live-streaming workouts for some time now. Because of the pandemic, though, they’ve become much more widespread. Some are offering these alternatives for free whereas others are only making them available to people with paid gym memberships. If you have a membership with a local gym, contact the facility to find out if they’re offering these types of on-demand workouts. Otherwise, feel free to do some research to see which ones might be open to everyone in your area.

Stay Active without Leaving Home

Countless people are feeling the effects of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle due to the pandemic. Fortunately, you don’t have to take the impact lying down. Plenty of tools and resources are at your disposal if you’re looking for ways to stay active and enjoy all the health benefits exercise can provide. Since so many of them are available online, you don’t even have to leave home to take advantage of them.