10 ways to say goodbye to sedentary

By Haeley Huggard

SAGINAW — The year 2020 in general has been one of the craziest years we have had so far. We have faced killer bees, COVID-19, self-quarantining, society having its own curfew, job losses, protests, our own president testing positive for COVID-19. The only nightmare that’s missing from this list would have been a visit from aliens.

Couch surfing certainly looks like a prettier option when you compare it to all of the things going on in our world today.

For many Delta students who are still having classes on campus, as of November 11, 2020, it was announced that classes will be reverting back to an online format until the first three weeks of the winter semester are over.

Since many of us will be back home once more, it is important to remember to stay active. Sitting on the couch, watching movies is fine in small increments. But when it becomes an all day event is when it begins to affect our health.

Here are 10 helpful tips to help keep you active while we are back at home:

1. Five-minute breaks are a must– Since COVID will be keeping us home once more, try to remember to take a minimum of a five-minute break for every hour you sit. This can erase some of the long-term effects that sitting has on our bodies.
2. Park towards the back– I know we all want that front row parking space, but an easy way to get some extra steps in is by simply parking towards the back of the parking lot. You’ll get a lot more steps in and it won’t feel like a crazy workout. For tips that are similar to this one you can visit verywellhealth.com.
3. Exercise videos don’t have to be only DVD’s– It’s true. Though traditionally DVD’s are fun to use, there are many different workout videos available for free on YouTube. There is also a huge variety, so you won’t be left feeling tired of doing the same workout over and over.
4. Speak while standing- Though this one may sound a bit foolish, it’s easy for us to sit down and stay that way for an entire day, but instead of sitting down while having a conversation (whether that’s on the phone, or in person) try standing up for the entirety of the conversation.
5. Don’t forget to walk- Whether you decide to go out for a walk because it’s a nice day or simply walk for five minutes around the house, walking is important. According to Harvard.edu, walking for a minimum of five minutes every two hours is a great way to help you make sure you stimulate your muscles every day.
6. Use those annoying advertisements to your advantage- We all dread having to sit through advertisements, it doesn’t matter if it’s YouTube or on T.V. they are very annoying. But one way to put those breaks in your show to good use is to use them as an excuse to move. When a commercial shows up, get off that couch and walk away.
7. Make a daily workout difficult to ignore– Sure we can ignore it all we want or even forget but by taking small steps (no pun intended) such as laying out only workout related clothes, putting sticky notes on your bathroom mirror, or setting a daily reminder on your phone, will help remind you to take action. Let’s face it it’s harder to forget when you have constant reminders all around you.
8. Set some ground rules– If you like to snack a lot, a good rule you set for yourself could be to go for a walk (or do some type of workout) and have a snack later. Who knows, by the end of that workout you may not even want that snack.
9. It helps to set goals for yourself- For many of us, goals give us motivation. Setting a goal could give you that kick you need to get going. Set a goal for how much workout time you want to reach for working out. Maybe you want to work out up to two hours a day or maybe just a half an hour, either way goals are great!
10. Soup is the best medicine– Not only is soup delicious but you can use soup cans (unopened) as weights and do arm curls. Not only can this be a good arm workout, when you’re done you can make yourself a bowl of soup