How To Train And Keep Busy During Quarantine
Razili Nelson explains how you can reduce the risk of losing the fitness you may have built up over the past few months.
With a global pandemic showing no signs of dissipating anytime soon, COVID-19 has had a vice-like grip on sports. With the opportunity to be active somewhat limited, there is always the risk of losing fitness.
However, just because you cannot get to the gym does not mean that you cannot stay healthy, either. Although the usual exercise locations are closed, there are always some alternatives.
One of those is simple enough: utilizing the Government's approved window of exercise—a window that is not to be wasted, even if you do not consider yourself in shape.
Be it a bike ride, a 5km run, or even a light walk that breaks a sweat, getting your body active during stressful times is recommended. Even a small amount of time spent getting out and about can benefit your physical and mental health.
Of course, team sports such as Football are not deemed an approved pastime at present, and with players up and down the United Kingdom sitting inactive, they will be looking to Germany with a keen interest in the next few weeks.
The German Football League (DFL) proposed plans for the Bundesliga to resume in May. After a slight delay in proceedings, Chancellor Angela Merkel finally gave the green light. Who will lift the trophy, Bayern or Dortmund?
While a ball cannot be kicked in anger, amateur and professional footballers can still use their surroundings to stay match-fit. If they also possess a garden, then no shortage of training drills can be undertaken.
For example, if you are either a Premier League or Sunday League forward and have been charged with scoring goals this season, the last thing you want to do is lose the edge over a fearsome centre-back.
You are going to have to make sure your shooting boots still fit, and what better way to do that than by arranging some target practice? Whether it be against your back wall or a reduced-size goal, any striker will attest to the joyful feeling of scoring a goal.
Even if you cannot call upon a goalkeeper in times such as these, nothing stops you from sharpening your technique in front of the goal, and it may pay dividends when you return to the playing field.
This is just one of many examples of leftfield thinking regarding the coronavirus situation we found ourselves in. Although staying active is essential, rest is just as pertinent.
Admittedly, there will be much more relaxation these days, what with so many people placed under lockdown. However, that does not mean you need to overexert yourself to compensate for such restrictions.
There may be a sense of trying to prove a point and being overactive, especially if you have not picked up a bike for the last couple of years and suddenly attempt a 60km bike ride on a Tuesday afternoon.
That will only inflict more stress and strain on the body, which means the risk of injury. If you are injured, this current climate will only be tougher because you will be stuck feeling sorry for yourself on the sofa.
Therefore, the mantra should be to exercise smarter, not harder, and to rest both mind and body. Rest could come from reading a book or listening to your favourite records.
Or you could utilise this abundance of spare time to learn a new skill. Whether you have always wanted to learn Spanish or work out how to construct a database, you will never get a better opportunity. Whatever you choose to do during these times, please make sure you stay safe.
Page Reference
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- NELSON, R. (2020) How To Train And Keep Busy During Quarantine [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article566.htm [Accessed
About the Author
Razili Nelson is a freelance journalist.