Amsterdam

Covid-19 – How To Safely Exercise Outdoors

April 3, 2020

 

How are you all holding up during social distancing? Depending on where you live, you may find yourself either in semi-lockdown, full lockdown or quarantined. Not to sound to down on you guys, but I have felt there is no ending insight of our current situation. Don’t let these happy photos fool you. I have felt completely “off” the last two weeks, but I am doing better. Like I have mentioned in my latest blog. Our global situation has left me confused like most of us. I am keeping it together though, always trying to stay positive and adapting to it. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m slowly finding ways to fill my days with fun and productive tasks. I will share a list of these with you soon in a next post. Up until now, my holy grail to stay sane has been exercise! With so many new safety rules we have to think about, I wanted to share a few tips I am using when going for my much-needed run. How to stay motivated, what to do and what to think about before heading out the door. Let’s go!

 

#stayhome

Social distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, AmsterdamSocial distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, Amsterdam

Social distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, Amsterdam

tip 1:How to stay motivated to exercise outdoors?

I don’t know about you guys, but I get very restless staying indoors all day. I feel lethargic and my body starts to ache. We need fresh air and sunlight to stay healthy, so even if working at home all day and lounging in front of the tv afterward is the norm, think about better health, low-stress levels, more energy, a clear brain, and better sleep and start working out outdoors. The Corona crisis is putting a lot of strain on all of us. So to stay positive, grab your bottle of water and turn on your music on your phone and off you go. You will be looking better than ever after a few weeks. Think a slimmer body and a healthy glowing skin. Enough motivation right?

tip 2: Is it safe to exercise outdoors?

Yes—as long as you’re alone. When people flock together and someone sneezes or coughs, droplets get onto objects that people touch, and then people touch their face. The best plan for running right now is to go out for a solo run and enjoy the outdoors, in non crowded areas. And, try timing your run for when you know the trails will be less crowded. I love going in the early evening after working behind my laptop all day.

 

Note: I’ve noticed that most people coming from the opposite direction get nervous when you approach them while running. Make it a habit to make your way around them 30 feet before passing them. I have noticed that most elderly look relieved when you do this because they don’t have the speed to do it. So be polite while running and keep your six feet distance!

 

Social distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, Amsterdam

tip 3: Should I avoid touching traffic buttons?

The latest data with the novel coronavirus is that the sunlight creates an inhospitable environment for the coronavirus, so it’s less likely to thrive in an outdoor environment. In general, objects outside should have little virus on them.  However, there could be a problem if someone coughs into his or her hand immediately before touching a traffic button, and then you touch the traffic button after them. If you must touch the traffic button, do not touch your face after. Even better? Use a glove (then avoid touching your face), sleeve, or elbow.

 

Social distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, AmsterdamSocial distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, Amsterdam

Social distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, Amsterdam

tip 5: When and when not to exercise

Some of you might be afraid to run in the colder weather for fear of illness, but that’s not true; there is no data that you will get sick from really any respiratory pathogen when running in cold weather.. Getting in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to brisk activity can help your immune system keep viruses at bay. Be sure you know what’s going on in your area and if there are any restrictions or mandatory self-quarantines. And, if you’re sick or at-risk of spreading the virus, you shouldn’t go out—the bigger concern is spreading it to those who are at high risk, such as the elderly or immune compromised. During a self quarantine, doing some exercise while staying where you are quarantined to keep healthy—doing bodyweight exercises or running on an at-home treadmill, watching Zumba videos on YouTube are great ways to do this. Unless you’re sick. “If you do have flu or coronavirus, or have fever, sick people think wrongly they can ‘exercise the virus out of the system’ or ‘sweat it out,’ that’s a myth. It’s actually the opposite,”

 

Shop one of my favorite water bottles for on the go:

 

Social distancing, How to safely exercise outdoors, Covid-19, coronavirus, Tamara Chloé, Cherry blossoms, Amsterdam

 

Building your immune system is one of the precautions you can actively take by exercising. Even if you never exercised before, start by taking brisk walks for half an hour. Then do running intervals for one minute and walk for 5 minutes and slowly prolong your running. You will notice you will be able to run longer day by day. “Runners high” is really a thing! The endorphins your body releases gives you an incredible feeling! I am totally addicted to it.

 

What is your favorite way of staying active during the Corona crisis?

Thanks for stopping by and stay safe everyone!

With love,

xoTamara Chloé

"Most People think I'm in
my 30's, but I'm actually 51
years young".

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