5 tips for staying active at home

A recent survey of over 2000 Aussies found that 35% of us have been doing less exercise and not staying active since social distancing laws came into place.

We know that keeping your body active when you can’t get to the gym or your favourite workout classes can seem challenging. However, moving more, sitting less, and being active for at least 30 minutes every day is more important than ever and home workouts are on the rise!

Being physically active helps achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. There is also evidence that physical activity can reduce your risk of cancer of the bowel, breast (after menopause) and endometrium. Vigorous physical activity may also protect against breast cancer in premenopausal women.

So, to help you move more and sit less we’ve complied our top five tips for working out at home! Check them out below:

1. Break up your work from home routine with quick exercise breaks

A super easy way to move more throughout the day is to incorporate regular exercise breaks into your work day.  Why not try breaking up your sitting time with a quick stretch break.

Our favourites are the  lower back stretch, pectoral and biceps stretch and calf stretch.

2.  Replace your usual class with an at-home workout routine

Your usual class being cancelled doesn’t mean you can’t use the time to get some exercise in! We have a range of exercises you can do at home without any equipment!  We recommend choosing a few favourites and then completing them each a few times in a circuit.

• Modified push up
• Side Plank
• Lunge
• Pelvic tilt
• Wall squat
• Calf raise
• Bird-dog
• Single or double leg lift

3. Get outside with the kids!

Help the kids burn off some energy and get more exercise into your day by planning some fun backyard games with them on the weekends. You could try some backyard cricket or even create a scavenger hunt to get the whole family moving!

4. Don’t forget, it all adds up!

Make easy switches like taking the stairs instead of the lift (if you live in an apartment) and walking the long way to grab your morning coffee. Small changes to your usual routine can help you get your steps up for the week.

And don’t forget that household activities such as gardening and your daily cleaning chores all help get your body moving while at home!

5. Stay active with our at-home workouts

Health and fitness expert, Cassey The Energiser’ Maynard has developed a signature movement session, exclusive to Cancer Council supporters.

To try it out, simply sign up to access our Wellness Kit. You’ll also have access to delicious healthy recipes, our top entertainment picks and more easy ideas for staying active at home!

This post is intended as a guide. It’s important to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program or doing the above exercises.

For cancer information and support, contact us on 13 11 20.