What are your top tips for staying active in lockdown?

Ben Southam: Consistency and Habit! 

  • Schedule your exercise into your diary as an appointment to keep as much structure as possible. 

  • Move every 30-60 minutes if you are working from home. 

  • Play a family game. I.e. every time the leader yells "Attention", whole family needs to do 20 push ups

Aiden Little: Plan ahead and make yourself accountable. 

Use your calendar and schedule in a time each day that you plan to exercise and stick to it like you would an appointment. It might be challenging at first, but after a few weeks it will become a habit. 

Avoid rain checks.

Getting out in the sun and exercising is awesome, but Melbourne weather can be a bit unpredictable at the best of times. Work out alternative ways you can get active inside if the weather is bad. 

Starting the workout is usually the hardest part, so make it as easy as possible for yourself. Have your workout gear/ drink bottle ready to go before your workout. Once I finish a workout I like to get everything prepared for my next workout while I’m feeling pumped.

Tara Jenkins: Be organised

Creating a schedule every Sunday night, planning out when I can exercise and what I want to get out of each day!

Do a workout with a group of friends online 

Grab your family or housemates and come up with 1-3 exercises each to run a workout and move throughout the day 

Have a goal each day stuck on the fridge that the household has to tick off - eg. complete 50 squats throughout the day!

Thomas Hayes: Have fun!

Find something that you enjoy for more than just the exercise. I.e. going to your favourite place that’s close by E.g. a beach, part, street with a lot of nice houses.

Alternately, Explore places within your 5km that you haven’t been before!

Vanessa Joyce: Think ahead.

Schedule in your activity like an appointment, go to bed the night before with a plan of when your activity is going to fit into your day. If you're working from home get up and move about frequently- fill up your glass of water half way only and you’ll have to go and fill it up! 

Ash Gardner: Educate!

Find a good podcast or create an upbeat playlists to use while exercising.

You could have a different podcast or playlist for each day of week - helps make every day different/breaks up monotony of home life.

Sam Thomas: Puppy love.

Prioritising your workouts as a key part of your week and setting aside a time so that you are more likely to stick to it.

Get a puppy. No greater incentive to exercise unless you want holes dug in your backyard from a bored puppy.

Lisa Bufalino: If possible set regular times for planned exercise. 

Each day strive for a new goal- this can be a step total, distance or discovering a new location and track within your 5km zone. 

Taylor Holmes: routine is definitely key!

A small walk in the morning and afternoon and regular breaks for stretching and mobility

Ashleigh Goetz: Keep it fun, simple and enjoyable.

Mix it up, include the family or friends. It doesn’t have to be a gym session, it can be a Football or Basketball game with the family. When we enjoy what we’re doing were more likely to keep doing it.

Josh McCarthy: Keep the routine going!

It’s really easy to let lockdown overwhelm us and not worry about exercise during this time. If you’re not feeling up to your usual exercise routine aim to do something small and manageable such as a stretching session.

Elyce Hay: Try to find something that you enjoy!

Walking with a friend, kicking the footy and keeping a bit of variety in your exercise can keep things interesting and enjoyable. 

Megan Vermeulen: Make it enjoyable!

Lockdown can be tough, so try and pick activities that make you feel good! Exploring new places or involving family and friends can be a great way to increase enjoyment too!

Tony Kearney: Avoid boredom.

Walk to the shops if you can instead of driving.

If you are working from home move every 30-60 minutes if you are sitting at a desk to promote circulation, reduce stiffness and hopefully to boost productivity.

Get motivated and stay accountable by joining one of our amazing Zoom Telehealth groups.

Jordy Gaylor: Use technology.

Utilise the step counter on your phone/smart watch, if you haven't been active enough, you will be able to tell!

Steph Hayward: Music matters.

Schedule your time in the dairy to exercise and have a back up plan if the weather does not permit you to exercise outside. I love my spin bike and love doing some body weight exercises in a circuit to my favorite music. 

Mark Simpson