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..................................................................................................................................................................... caused by dietary changes and exercise helps offset the effects of sedentary life. • Exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety. Exercise is a mood booster and it releases those feel-good hormones and endorphins. Use exercise as the drug of choice rather than alcohol or a pill • Exercise improves sleep. Regular exercise helps you fall asleep faster and improves sleep quality. Good quality sleep is also found to boost your immune system. Exercise is imperative for older people that may have chronic health problems. It will boost that immune system, improve your balance, flexibility, strength, mobility and cardiovascular health. The worst thing you can do is SIT! Staying active during COVID-19 is still possible! Remember adults should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise to stay healthy. H ERE ARE SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO GET — AND KEEP — MOVING : • Enjoy walks, bike rides, living room yoga sessions, or outdoor games with the family. You can even put on some fun music and have a dance party or dance contests! • Go outdoors. As temperatures get warmer, I recommend taking a 10-15-minute walk around the block and then do it again late afternoon. Remember the sun is the best source of Vitamin D and we need that Vitamin D to ward off infection. • Follow along with online exercise videos or take virtual classes. You can find all kinds of videos online and never leave the com- fort of your homes. I know MetroFitness provided online work- outs and people loved being able to do these different workouts, with different instructors every day; even 2-3 times a day. This pandemic has gym owners finding creative outlets for getting people involved in exercise. • Challenge yourself. Set an exercise goal such as doing 5 different types of exercises five days a week. Journal about it. Plan to reach your goal. Find friends to take the challenge with you and encourage each other. There is power in accountability even 6 feet apart! • Use chores to burn calories. Now’s a great time to tackle home improvement projects. Pressure washing, yard work, planting, and cleaning out the garage or closets all burn extra calories! I love to clean house because I look at it as functional exercise. Not only do you move, but you feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction on what you achieved! Although we may not be in our normal exercise routine and en- vironment, we must create and adjust to the “new norm” — what- ever that might look like for you. Bottom line is regular physical activity can help us optimize our health during the coronavirus pandemic. Nuvancehealth.org Western Connecticut Health Network , April 22, 2020. n Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter JUNE/JULY 2020 13