If you were already fit and had hobbies like cycling, running or going to the gym, the transition to lockdown life may not be as difficult as you think. If you are keen to adopt the healthiest lifestyle you can in these strange, unique times, you will certainly feel the benefit. Better sleep, better mindset and breaking up the day are all huge rewards gained by keeping fit.

Here are my top 5 tips on staying active during lockdown.

1 – GET SOCIAL
Never know what exercises to do? Look no further than social media. Instagram is currently awash with #HomeWorkouts. From our favourite sporting stars to personal trainers, there are so many to choose from. They’re mainly short, sharp workouts and, looking at the hashtag, cater for a huge variety of fitness levels: from entry all the way up to hard cardio workouts.

No dumbbells? No worries. Tins of beans, loo roll, and other household items all feature as equipment alternatives. Get scrolling!

2 – ACTIVE HOUSEWORK
Kill 2 birds with 1 stone and get cleaning! Having to stay in so much, you’ll feel so much better in nice, clean surroundings.

• Cleaning the windows? 150 calories in 30 minutes.
• Gardening? Up to 200 calories for 30 minutes.
• Cleaning the whole flat can be the equivalent of a 5-mile run!

Even better, crank the tunes up and make it fun. Not only will you feel better for moving around, but you’ll also feel smug looking at the hoovered floor when you turn on Netflix in the evening.

3 –Get outside as much as possible.
Unless your area is under a stay-at-home order or you need to remain in quarantine, try to exercise outside as much as possible. Take a walk, jog, or ride a bike outside, just remember to wear a mask and/or maintain a safe distance from others. The fresh air and sunshine will provide a further boost to your mental health.

4 – Miss the gym? Create a home workout area.
If you have space available, designate an inviting area of your home to exercise and keep your equipment handy. Try using resistance bands, water bottles, or your own body weight to perform resistance exercises. You could start by doing push-ups against the wall then progress to doing them against the kitchen counter, the coffee table, and finally the floor. Have stairs in your house? Stair climbing is an efficient strength training activity. Keep one foot on a step and step up and down several times (or try stepping up two steps for an even tougher workout).

5 – Join the kids.
Play catch or tag, go for a bike ride, shoot baskets, or pass the soccer ball with your kids. Taking the focus away from schoolwork or chores and playing together can even help repair a strained relationship.