If you’re a teenager, you might be having a tough time during the pandemic. It affects each person differently, but it’s hard on everyone. Maybe you have an out-of-work parent or a relative who has contracted Covid-19.
Another issue is that you might not be able to play sports. Some schools are allowing in-person teaching, while others are doing strictly online classes. Almost no schools are letting kids play sports right now because of possible exposure risk.
You probably have plenty of energy, and you want a way to get it out and burn some calories. Here are four ideas as to how you can stay fit and healthy through the pandemic.
You Can Ride Your Bike
Bike riding is one way to go. If you own a bike already, you can jump on and go for a ride around your neighborhood. Make sure if you do this that you look for a helmet with a tough shell first. That’s because:
- If you fall off, you could hit your head
- Hitting your head can give you a concussion, which can be quite dangerous
You can check out new neighborhoods on your bike, or you can ride to a public park and explore there if they have bike trails. You can also meet up with some of your friends and do this as long as you practice social distancing.
You can even invite your parents to come along with you if they’re not working at the time. You can all go out as a family on the weekend, and you can bond that way.
You Can Go for a Walk
In some areas, we’re approaching colder weather. If it is cold where you are right now, you might not want to ride your bike again till spring. Pretty soon, you’ll probably see some snow, and bike riding is almost impossible in snowdrifts and on the ice.
You can go for walks around the neighborhood instead. Walking is great because:
- You don’t need a bike, a helmet, or any other equipment
- It gives you an opportunity to clear your head
This is a stressful time for teens as well as adults. You might feel a little overwhelmed by what’s happening in the country and around the world.
When you’re out walking, you’re exercising, but you’re also by yourself, and sometimes, that’s healthy. Your family does not surround you. Surely you love them, but a little solitude can do you some good.
You Can Take Up Skateboarding
If you have a skateboard and live in a region that doesn’t get too cold in the fall and winter, you can also go skateboarding as an exercise form. You can put on a helmet and pads and head to the nearest skate park. If there’s not one around, you can hop on your board and explore your neighborhood.
You might have a whole friend group that is into skateboarding. Like biking, it’s an activity that’s both fun and allows you to exercise.
You might enjoy learning how to do some skateboarding tricks. You can watch YouTube videos to get an idea of what you can accomplish if you practice. If you go out skateboarding with your friends, just make sure you wear a mask or practice social distancing.
You Can Try Yoga
Yoga is another great exercise form that anyone can try. You can do it as a child, teenager, or adult.
You might not be able to take classes right now, but you can still learn some basic moves online. There are YouTube videos that will show you how to do some of the fundamental stretching exercises.
Yoga keeps you limber, and it helps your mental state too. There is a meditative aspect to it as well as the physical part. You can do it in the morning when you wake up or in the evening before bed.
Any of these exercises can help you burn calories and stay fit while you can’t play some of the sports you love. If you don’t exercise, you can easily get out of shape.
Childhood obesity is a serious issue, and you want to keep your weight down during adolescence. If you reach adulthood and you’re overweight, that can continue throughout your life.
It’s not easy getting through the pandemic with the schools taking sports away from you. You have to understand, though, that’s it’s not forever. Hopefully, medical science will come up with a vaccine, and things will return to the way they were before.