If you are under 70 with no underlying health conditions, you can still be active outside as long as you stay at least two metres (around three paces or six feet) away from other people.
You can walk the dog, go for a run or go for a bike ride – provided you keep your distance.
If you are over 70 and self-isolating, or you are pregnant or have an underlying health condition, but feel well, you can go outside with the same advice of keeping your distance from others.
If you are self-isolating with symptoms, or someone in your household has symptoms, you should not leave your home – but that doesn’t mean you should stop moving. It’s really important to use movement and activity as a way of breaking up your routine, if you feel well enough. Cook, play active games, dance or go into the garden if you’ve got one.
You can find information and guidance for healthy lifestyle choices, and a selection of free apps to download at One You .
If you are unwell – use your energy to get better and don’t try to be active. If you can get out of bed, then do so, but don’t try to do too much.
Finally, if you are feeling better after having had the virus, return to your normal routine gradually. We don’t yet know what the long term effects are but as far as we know, there is no reason why you can’t gently return to normal activity.
Remember, if you go out, you cannot use public gym equipment available in parks and you must not be in groups of more than two people, unless you are with people in your household.
Want to exercise at home?
You can. There are plenty of free resources available for exercising at home:
- 10-minute workout videos from One You
- Get moving around the house advice from Undefeatable
- This Girl Can home workout ideas
- NHS home workout videos
There are also a huge number of celebrities, musicians, physical trainers and others live-streaming dance parties, workouts and chats while socially distancing – check the social media profiles of your favourites to join in or search on YouTube.
The Body Coach (Joe Wicks) does a daily 30-minute workout for children every morning at 9am on his YouTube channel.
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/2020/03/25/looking-after-your-mental-health-and-wellbeing/