Exercise During Social Distancing
While my sister Mallory and I may look a lot alike, there are some striking differences between us. One of these differences is exercise. Simply put, Mallory likes to exercise, and I don’t. For as long as I can remember, Mallory has made exercise a priority in her life. She has repeatedly told me that exercise helps her not only physically but improves her mental and emotional wellbeing too. I just rolled my eyes.
About two years ago (I am embarrassed to admit), vanity got the best of me. I was asked to be in a wedding party where, on average, everyone was 8+ years younger than I. While honored, I needed a confidence booster. So, I started making exercise a priority and incorporating cardio into my life. I made myself get up earlier every morning before going to the office (if I don’t work out in the morning, it simply doesn’t happen). It was hard but I did it!
So now that I have started exercising, how have I kept it up during social distancing? Here are few tips and resources that I have found useful and motivating.
Find someone who likes working out more than you and make them your exercise partner.
Mallory has played this role for me during social distancing. She frequently texts me to join her with the kids for a walk and scooter ride. Sam, Emma, and Joe scooter together, while I walk quickly behind trying to keep up and Mallory pushes Jack in her jogging stroller.
Or Mallory will call and encourage me to join her for a quick @onepeloton workout in her backyard. We have even done some of the Family Style Activity Sessions together with instructor Jess Sims (@jsimsfit) and the kids. Right now, you can download the Peloton App for a free 90-day trial (no credit card required). I encourage everyone to try it!
Under normal circumstances, my friend Jessica is my workout partner. We meet at the gym at 5:45am twice a week rain or shine. There are so many mornings where if I knew she was not going to be at the gym, I simply wouldn’t show up. Jessica holds me accountable. I go to the gym because she is going to be there.
Learn what motivates you to exercise.
You are going to laugh, but the only thing I have found that motivates me to do cardio is watching TV or listening to a good podcast. And this rule applies during social distancing (and helps me forget that I doing burpees in my garage)! I pick certain shows (just finished Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu!) or podcasts that I only allow myself to watch if I am working out. It’s the incentive I need to exercise, and it truly works for me. Listening to music just does not cut it. Addictive television (can you say Cheer!) is my reward for doing cardio; it makes the time go faster; and distracts me from how much I want to just stop. So grab yourself a pair of wireless headphones (I use the Apple AirPods and Ryan uses these) and find a good TV series. It really works!
Identify workouts you enjoy.
Before social distancing began, I started the 12-week BBG Sweat original workout program designed by Kayla Itsines. You can download her Sweat App but at $19.99 per month, or $120 annually if you are willing to commit to a year, its an investment. I find the program to be very challenging and hugely motivating to finish but with a ton of jumping its not for everyone. If you want to try it out without the financial commitment, many of the BBG weekly sessions have been posted on Pinterest. Its how I got started.
During social distancing, @kayla_itsines has been posting a ton of workout (including jump free and equipment fee) via Instagram. Mallory and I have also done many of these workouts in her backyard. I recommend you give her a follow. She also posts many of the same works on Facebook as well.
YouTube has also provided some great workouts for me during social distancing, I have started using Heather Robertson’s and MadFit’s workouts on YouTube. These are great options for quick workouts without the need for a lot of equipment or space.
Invest in a personal activity tracker.
Its no coincidence that my return to exercise coincided with Ryan gifting me an Apple Watch. Mallory and I both use our Apple Watches to monitor our activity levels (or lack thereof). Whether its an Apple Watch, Garmin Vivofit (colleagues have raved about this one!), or Fitbit, the daily accountability for your own activity level is invaluable and hugely motivating for me.
Make exercise easy and convenient.
During last year’s Amazon Prime Day, I bought this extra-large yoga mat (in pink!), this step aerobic platform, and this kettlebell set on steep discounts. I have set them up in my garage because we don’t have any room inside the house for an exercise area. Having a place I can go (and shut the door!) and exercise during social distancing has been invaluable. The extra large yoga mat has also come in really hand for Sam and Emma’s Cosmic Yoga and Zoom karate classes during this time as well.
For Mallory and Chris, convenience meant purchasing a Peloton Bike. While the purchase came well before social distancing began, I know both have appreciated the bike even more now and love the extra workout options that are offered through the Peloton App.
While not an option for everyone, another thing that has been really helpful during this period of social distancing is Mallory and Chris’ recent decision to install turf in their backyard through the Turf Company with a product called Dream Turf. While I have not necessarily always been a proponent of turf, this particular product looks great and really facilitates being able to be out in the backyard for a workout or being active with the kids outside without getting totally soaked on the ground. It drains so quickly! Mallory reports that the company was great to work with and while admittedly a big investment, totally worth it in her (and my) opinion. Pet-friendly, baby-friendly and work-out friendly 🙂
And, while I hesitate to write this, Mallory was right 😊 While vanity may have brought me back to exercise, it has been a huge stress release for me. While I still do not like to exercise, I am a better mom, wife, and lawyer when I manage to do it. Never going to live this blog post down…
