How to stay fit and active at home during self-isolation

It's easy to get some exercise in your daily routine if you are working from home or are in self-isolation, writes Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis and Associate Professor Kate Edwards. The extensive social distancing policies put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 mean most people will have to spend much, if not all, their time at home. Self-isolation means far fewer opportunities to be physically active if you are used to walking or cycling for transportation and doing leisure time sports. But equally worryingly, the home environment also offers abundant opportunity to be sedentary (sitting or reclining). While self-isolation measures are necessary, our bodies and minds still need exercise to function well, prevent weight gain and keep the spirits up during these challenging times. Exercise can help keep our immune system become strong, less susceptible to infections and their most severe consequences , and better able to recover from them. Even before the restrictive conditions were announced, physical inactivity cost 5.3 million lives a year globally.