The good news is that something as simple as some very light movement around the house to break up all that couch surfing time can make a difference in mood, as Meyer’s earlier research has found.
Scores of previous studies confirm that being physically active boosts mood, lowers anxiety and improves sleep quality.
“We know consistently that the more people are active, the more that they exercise, the better their mental health is,” says Meyer.
For many office workers like me, working from home means we’ve fallen into a routine of spending hours at our desk. With another pandemic winter about to hit us and much of the country and the world still dealing with COVID-19, we are often stuck at home more than we’d like, so it’s time to start sitting less and moving around more.
Meyer and other exercise experts shared some tips to get started:
Think small
If you haven’t been working out throughout the pandemic and are intimidated about starting now, don’t worry, says Meyer. Start small.
“If I were to walk around my office, all those steps would count, it would be helpful,” he says.
People trying to start exercising often get caught up in an “all or nothing” thinking, says sports psychologist Jennifer Carter at the Ohio State University.
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