Being at university can oftentimes mean sitting almost all day long. And even more now, when we avoid going out and in crowded spaces. We have gathered some ideas to help you be more active in these types of situations.
Take the stairs
Whether you are going to classes, work or simply coming back from the supermarket, get out of your comfort zone and take the stairs (you may be exempted if you live at the top of a skyscraper), otherwise, 3, 2, 1, let’s get all the way up to your apartment! This is a good way to ensure you get some cardio in, without it necessarily getting in the way of your daily program. If you are at home, you also have the option of just getting out of your door and going up and down the stairs, without even going outside!
Have a break, have a stretch
No matter what we are doing, we all need a break from it every once in a while. If you are at EHL, grab some friends and go for a walk in the nature: the forest is right across the campus so there are no excuses not to go! It is a perfect way to have a nice study break with your friends while being surrounded by trees! On the other hand, if you are at home, get away from anything you are working on, your laptop, your phone, your books, etc. and have a nice stretch session! There are plenty of “stretch challenges” you can find online and which will give you an additional motivation to take a break.
Walk to work
If you live within walking distance from EHL, or any place you need to go to, make sure you don’t take your car nor public transports. Walking to your place of work (or study) is the perfect way to get some exercise in, without it getting in the way of your schedule. In fact, if you are within walking distance, chances are the walking time and the bus/metro/car time is more or less the same, due to the traffic jam, traffic lights, and even finding a parking spot! However, if you truly cannot walk to school as it would take you way too long, and you have to use your car, make sure to find a parking spot that is far enough from where you need to go. At the end of the day, you will be happy to be able to move a bit before sitting back in your car!
Just sit
Ok, maybe not so still. But if you are stuck at your desk, whether at work, university or at home, here’s an easy way to get some movement in without leaving your chair! Just sit tall, contract your core, and lift up to your toes, hold for a few seconds and put your feet flat on the ground, then repeat for the rest of the day. Just kidding, but try to do it for as long as you can. Nobody will notice anything, while you get on with your day with perfect multitasking skills.
Have fun with your friends
If none of the above options seem to be working for you, then maybe this one will do! Grab some friends to motivate yourselves and go to the gym, either at the beginning or the end of the day. Sounds boring? Then maybe you can try home workouts and challenge each other, or you can go have a swim, go out and explore your city. Having fun with your friends is one of the healthiest activities you can do, so what are you waiting for to organizing some fun ones with them? This sounds like the perfect combo!
