Because your FitBit and Apple Watch don’t care that you’re WFH.
It began during lockdown in France with one furloughed restaurant worker completing a marathon on his 23-foot long balcony. The baton was then picked up by James Page, 36, who did 873 laps of his Sidcup garden to complete his own marathon and raise over £3,000 for Children With Cancer.
And so, while we don’t expect you to march through 26.2 in your living room, there are clearly still plenty of opportunities to stay on the front foot when working from home. Here’s our rundown of the simple routes to 10,000 steps that’ll keep you moving forward and your spirits lifted.
- Shadow boxing. This isn’t just about throwing your hands, but moving your feet to transfer power to your fists. Follow our Third Space Combat Master Trainer, Natalie Gyte, for some serious boxing inspo.
- Skipping. The most effective cardio workout can all be done on the same spot. According to research, skipping is an even more potent calorie-burner than running. The only question: how many double-unders can you do unbroken?
- Work upstairs. This way, anytime you want a tea break you have to come down and go back up again. Those living in a three-storey townhouse will feel the burn in their quads by the end of the day. Those in apartments less so…
- Tea-break harder. When you are waiting for the kettle to boil or the microwave to ping, make more of those lost minutes every day and drop into reverse lunges.
- Do It Yourself. Find a DIY project and get to work. Gardening is great low-intensity movement and a proven stress-reliever – spilling paint on your new carpet, not so much.
- Dancing. There’s no one watching, after all. Grab your partner and waltz around the kitchen or teach your baby how to twerk, it’s up to you.
- Live stream a workout. It’s an obvious one. But the incredible Third Space trainers have created 700+ workouts for you to do at home or in club via our member app or on desktop.
- Craft a standing desk. Whether it’s a proper contraption with mechanical levers, or just a precarious stack of books, standing up and down throughout the day – as well as shifting from foot to foot as you stand – is a proven way to burn calories and beat back pain.
- Walk and talk. Any time you take a call and don’t need to be at your laptop, take the call whilst moving around your house or garden.
- And finally, dust the floors… creatively. Slip into these mop slippers (£5, findmeagift.co.uk) and turn your household chores into a bad rendition of the Cha-Cha Slide.