In the fourth of a new series of blog posts to help you make the choice to walk more often for health, wellbeing or to get fit, through sharing tips and tricks and providing the motivation and support to do so.
Up to date guidance on Covid 19 is available here. Please be responsible and follow social distancing guidelines.
Now that the majority of us are currently based at home working, living and possibly home-schooling simultaneously, it is vital to carve out some extra movement in your and your family’s day to support everyone’s wellbeing, mental health and physical health. And it’s time to be creative!
Homeschooling:
If you have school-age children now is the perfect time to work on their physical literacy and introduce more activity throughout the day.
De La Salle school have a handy online resource with tons of activities that kids can do to stay active including dance & strength workouts and living room workouts.
Fun physical activities will break up the day for everyone and can add much needed release!
If that seems complicated make it easier and try skipping, if you don’t have a rope you can still skip! If you have a back garden run around it. Do laps! Jump up and down. Walk around the house and walk up and down the stairs.
Working from home:
Most of us don’t have a proper office set up at home and can be working best case at a kitchen table to worst case in bed and it is harder to keep moving or even sitting correctly. Take regular breaks and why not try different places to work – try creating a “standing desk” and using it intermittently while you work.
If you are on the phone Walk as you Talk!
Household tasks count! Cleaning or gardening do count as exercise. And there is the bonus that you can multitask at this!
Challenge yourself to step on the spot for as long as it takes to boil the kettle. Every step counts.
![]()
If you have a Fitbit or a fitness tracker app now is the time to wear it. Being aware of how many steps you have done will encourage you to take more.
Check your posture – take a moment to do a posture check. Stand tall, lift your shoulders towards your ears, then roll them back and down. Pull your navel towards your spine. Do this throughout the day and it will become more instinctive and improve your posture.
Break the internet:
You can access free live exercise classes online.
Find Age & Opportunity’s workouts aimed at older people on Facebook by searching @ageandopportunity or try Siel Bleu
Take a look at Mental Health Ireland’s 5 ways to wellbeing that will help support your mental health.
Walking and indeed any physical activity reduces stress, improves wellbeing, improves mood, improves attention, improves positive emotions and reduces negative emotions and increases self-esteem. It’s a free, easy to do and right now could make a big difference to your day.
Remember: some physical activity is better than none, more is better than some, and any amount of physical activity you do gains some health benefits.
#StayatHome
Read the rest of the Get Walking series - Finding Walks, looking at Physical Wellbeing and Mental Wellbeing. Do you need specific Gear? Look at Warm Up & Posture and Are you doing enough?How to deal withExcusesand setting some very important Goals! Read some Top Tips and think about Setting up a Walking Group and useful sample Walking Programmes you can use.
Read the rest of the Getting Walking series - Finding Walks, looking at Physical Wellbeing and Mental Wellbeing, Being Active during Covid19. Do you need specific Gear? Look at Warm Up & Posture and Are you doing enough?How to deal withExcusesand setting some very important Goals! Read some Top Tipsand think about Setting up a Walking Group and useful sample Walking Programmes you can use.