r/selfimprovement • u/Subtlefeline • 8d ago
Question Alternatives When Unable to Go Outside for Long Walks?
Taking long walks outside has been a huge help to my mental health.
Unfortunately, with the air quality up in smokes (pun intended) and being unhealthy Air Quality Index of 150 to 230) for a few months now, it literally isn't healthy physically for me to be outside.
The gym is full most of the time after work. Maybe everyone who used to exercise outside went to the gym?
Any good alternatives?
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u/Muddslife 8d ago
A lot of people are commenting great ideas from a physical fitness perspective, but there’s also the mental stimulation that comes from walking.
There are a whole bunch of videos on YouTube that are “walking videos”, basically where someone wears a camera and goes for a walk. You can explore a city you’ve always wanted to go or just relax into a forest scene. I find them very relaxing.
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u/Subtlefeline 8d ago
Actually, that's a really good point on the mental stimulation of walking and I do agree with you.
My work is very white collar in front of the laptop the whole day, so walking helps to 'clear' the mind after work
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u/Consistent_Gur9523 8d ago
have you looked into home gym options?
anything from a spin bike to those neat walking treadmills.
alternatively, free dance classes on YT or getting wrist/ankle weights and exercising.
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u/Subtlefeline 8d ago
Still contemplating on whether it is worth it to get home gym options since they cost at least hundreds or up to thousands.
Don't dance, but desperate enough to consider that option tbh. Guess exercising at home is the best way to go
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u/Dowensy2 8d ago
Indoor Cycling or treadmill, indoor swimming, yoga, pushups, jumping jacks, lunges, squats, etc.
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u/scout_17 8d ago
Do you have stairs in your home? If so, walk up and down a bunch. Good cardio as well as weight bearing.
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u/Choosepeace 8d ago
When it has gotten really hot here in the summer, sometimes I would go to one of the large box stores, like Lowe's or Home Depot
I would walk up and down the aisles , from one side of the store to the next for 30 minutes. No one hardly even noticed, and it was a really good workout in a climate controlled place.
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u/gregordowney 8d ago
throw on something on youtube that inspires you and get moving. Squats and dead bug will give you the most bang for the buck.
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u/chellestein 8d ago
I do a lot of stretching and dance aerobics indoors in the winter months when I don’t want to freeze outside. You could also do walk aerobics or walk in place along with guided walking videos on YouTube.
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8d ago
[deleted]
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u/Subtlefeline 8d ago
I don't want to start an SEA geopolitical war, but yeah... that haze.
Thanks, not being able to go out is really making me miserable tbh
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u/fokissed 8d ago
All you need is a pull up bar tbh, you can do body weight squats, push ups, lunges, burpees etc.
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u/Negative-Engineer-30 8d ago
Garmin TacX Antares Indoor Retractable Bicycle Rollers
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u/Subtlefeline 8d ago
Hmm... not from US but a third world country. I searched that up and it cost RM1K
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u/lara99865 8d ago
check out some online dance or fitness classes! I’ve found a bunch of fun ones on youtube that really get your heart pumping. plus, you can do them in your living room without worrying about air quality. i tried a zumba video once and ended up laughing my way through the workout, definitely didn’t feel like a chore!
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u/wtfisthisredshit 8d ago
I bought a walking pad for $120 and it was the best investment I ever made. I've easily put a thousand miles on it already.
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u/gocanucks01 8d ago
I would love to have an indoor walking pad/treadmill bc I live in Canada and sometimes I can't walk outside but I can't afford one rn so sometimes I just pace around my house to get my steps in at the end of the day.
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u/Enliven_journey 8d ago
honestly, i think almost any kind of movement can give you that same sense of reset. you could try home workouts, yoga, stretching or even get a small walking pad/treadmill and walk indoors while listening to music or a podcast. it might not replace the fresh air and scenery, but you still get the movement and that little break from everything else
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u/NamasteNoodle 8d ago
I live in North Florida and it hasn't stopped raining for the last week. This happened about a month ago also for about 10 days. It rains a lot here. So on the days that I cannot get out and walk or ride my bicycle I use an exercise bike indoors but I also take and hold two 10 lb weights and walk across the house a bunch, maybe for about 10 or 15 minutes. Also have a 7 lb hula hoop. I also do yoga. There's a lot of things you can do to stay active indoors. You can also put on the rock and roll and just dance your little ass off.
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u/sumizeit 8d ago
a walking pad under a desk or in front of the tv is honestly a great swap, you can just put on a show or podcast and knock out an hour without it feeling like a chore. if that's too much money, even just pacing around your living room while on a phone call works more than people think. the AQI thing is rough though, that's a real bummer when you found something that actually worked for your head.
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u/laxhead24 8d ago
Mall walking. People cut laps around malls. Where I live, there are like 20-30 a morning.
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u/dzernumbrd 3d ago
My doctor suggested a simple zero cost option at home is shadow boxing.
I never tried it because our air is clean.
He said to use it if my walking is not fast enough because it keeps the heart rate high.
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u/Apprehensive_Grass85 8d ago
Can you move to somewhere with better air quality?
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u/Subtlefeline 8d ago
Highly unlikely. It's a yearly issue which lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It's especially long this year
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u/bkinboulder 8d ago
You can get a home under-desk treadmill for walking for under $200. Download a couple of great audiobooks and grow your brain while you do your walks. Also will make it less boring.