The trials and tribulations of COVID continue. And let’s face it–we may not see the end of this pandemic for some time. So as society still debates about mask-wearing and vaccines (both are good ideas!), we cannot lose sight on how to stay sane (and healthy) during these complicated times. Here in Vietnam, all gyms are closed and have been since early May 2021 due to increasing COVID rates. And many places around the world are seeing similar situations–with quarantine restrictions, renewed lockdowns, and anxieties raising about interacting with other people. It is more important than ever to find creative ways to stay active. My website provides all kinds of suggestions on how to fit exercise throughout the day, interwoven through one’s daily routine. Contact me, and I can talk to you more about YOUR individual daily routine. But in short, home exercise continues to be one of the easiest and best ways to do exercise. It has the immediate benefits of being cleaner than gyms (usually!). You have access to all the comforts of home like limitless drinks and food, plus your telecommunication devices (which can be a distraction but also allow you to stay linked into work and the outside world), and of course your entertainment devices like TV. It’s awesome to run in place in the living room while watching a great Netflix movie. It’s nice to be able to run up and down the stairs in your favorite exercise clothes, including shirtless attire if that’s your thing (as you can see from my website, it’s certainly MY thing). And at home, you don’t have to worry about waiting for a machine or having to talk with random people (for all the fellow introverts out there, this is HUGE!). Sure, working out at home isn’t the same as going to a full gym–even if you have some decent equipment. But it can offer some sustainable and meaningful ways to exercise–and might even be fun as we think outside the box. And that, my friends, really is my whole point. You don’t need a lot of equipment to get a good workout. There are tons of out there about tips and ideas for home-exercise. You can find many good videos on Youtube to give you some ideas. All it takes is committing to doing it. I get it. The motivation factor is sometimes the hardest. Reach out to me–and I can help. And we should be helping each other. But since you’re taking the time to read this blog, let me give you some quick tips. One good way to stay focused is to think about your goals–what are they, how will you achieve them–and then stick to a plan, whatever it is. WANT it bad enough to not give up. Do what you have to to spice up the exercise activity and make it more interesting. If that means lifting weights in a room with a lot of mirrors to watch your bulging muscles grow–do it! If that means doing videos or reels of you sweating hard jumping rope on your patio–then post those reels and let the “likes” pour in. Do whatever it takes to stay maintain that commitment and know that no matter how crazy the world gets, or how many ups and downs we face with COVID, your home is your palace is your gym–and it’s your chance to take back control of your life and your fitness.